Time For The Unions To Start Their Own Party?.....hang On!

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25954886

[FredPuli43]

Don't see how unions will use their power to enrol lots of associate members, unless they make it a term of membership that a person joins. Since the present political levy is meant to be voluntary, I can't see how this would be enforceable.

Mr Milliband is leader under the present system. He's pulling up the drawbridge now he's aboard !

[FredPuli43]

^Drawbridge? Gangway. Bit of a mixed metaphor there! ^

[modeller]

The best thing the Labour party could do would be to be independant of the unions. It could then be a party of the people , left and centre.
Various labour ministers have tried to bring the party into the 20th century but all have failed . The union financed MPs and the extremists always outvoted them.

[youngmafbog]

It's all very well our Ed trying to disassociate himself from the Unions but the bottom line is they are the main source of cash. And under 'He who pays the piper ....' I can't see that Ed can win on this one.

I wish him good luck though, it would be nice to see Labour free of the Union domination.

[Old_Jim]

The unions are rapidly becoming an irrelevance. They used to be representatives of organised labour, but now most working people see them as defenders of the privileges of the few. We currently have a political party that relies on the votes of both union members and tribal Labour supporters. If they become divided between two parties, we can expect many years of Tory governments.

[FredPuli43]

Trade union membership has been in decline for some years. In 1979, 13 million were members. In 2012, c 6.5 million were. Even in 1995 , 32 per cent of the workforce were members but in 2012 26 per cent were. And the decline is in younger people. All age groups showed a fall except that of 65 and over (who must mostly be retired, I'd have thought). So, in numbers at least, the unions should be a declining influence [Figures: Department of Business]

[Gromit]

It's an old link, but worth re-hading

// More than half of donations to the Conservative Party last year came from the City of London, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Firms and individuals donated £11.4m in 2010, the bureau said, bringing the total from the City since David Cameron became leader to more than £42m. //

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12401049

The bankers who caused much more damage than the unions ever did, and doubled our national debt to bail them out, fund the Conservatives.
Which is why there has been no reform of the banks. No tighter regulation. No one made accountable and imprisoned. And why any kind of Europe wide reform from the EU is resisted. Which leaves the door open for them to steal our money again next time they f*ck up.

If any party should change and free itself of a dangerous influence, it is the Conservatives.

[youngmafbog]

//Which is why there has been no reform of the banks. No tighter regulation. //

You are joking right?

If not you clearly dont know what you are talking about.

I am stuck in the middle of it all and believe me there is much tighter regulation from across the Globe. It's just not reported, probably because no one wants to hear it as it is easier to bash the bankers.

[Gromit]

Enlighten me then ymb.

[whiskeryron]

When I was at work before retirement I had enough of the union giving block votes to the labour government on matters that were important to me without my consent. We never ever to my knowledge had a vote on whether they could use my vote or not & I was always arguing with workmates about it being totally undemocratic, so I reckon it can only be a good thing for the future of unions.

WR.