Blair's call angers union leader

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Tony Blair has provoked an angry reaction from one of Britain's biggest unions by demanding 'modernisation' of the relationship between the Labour Party and union members. In a speech in London, Mr Blair warned that the spectacle of the unions using their block vote to oppose Government policy at Labour's annual conference damaged the party's credibility.

The Labour leader argued that the party's National Policy Forum (NPF) should be the focus of policy formation, rather than an annual conference resembling a "masochism festival." Speaking to a conference organised by Progress, a party organisation promoting radical, progressive policies, Mr Blair called for a more direct relationship between the party and the three million union members who help to fund Labour through the political levy in their subscriptions.

The Prime Minister argued that a package of reforms is needed to ensure that Labour remains "forever in touch" with the aspirations of ordinary voters, continues to dominate the centre ground of British politics - and keeps its grip on power. But Tony Woodley, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, responded: "It is strange that party leaders only want to 'revive or modernise' our relationship after suffering heavy defeats at conference."

During Labour's week-long conference in Brighton last month, the party leadership suffered four union-inspired defeats, over the expanding role of the private sector in the NHS, secondary strike action, linking pensions to earnings, and council housing. Mr Woodley continued: "They are aiming at the wrong target. It is time to wake up and smell the coffee on issues that matter most to working people."

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2094802005

[fedsron2us]

1. Blair is such an idiot

It is his policies that have resulted in a collapse in the number of subscription paying ordinary Labour members. As a result the party is more dependent on union money to fund its day to day operations than at any time in its recent history. I would hazard a guess that 99% of those 3 millions workers paying the political levy put their allegiance to the union ahead of any desire to back the current Labour party. The amount of support for Blair amongst rank and file trade unionists is virtually nil so I do not see that he has any chance of building any sort of 'direct relationship' with them. In fact I would hazard a guess that there are a sizable minority who for one reason or another object to paying the political levy at all. My own union is not affiliated to the Labour party so Blair will not be getting any of my money.

[non sociopath skin]

2. Nor is mine.

Perhaps the Unions should modernise fully, and keep their political funds for campaigning for issues important to their members, rather than giving it to a party whose leader makes no attempt to disguise his hatred and contempt for them.

The skin