This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/08/miliband-dilute-union-power-revive-politics

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Ed Miliband wants not only to dilute union power but also to revive politics Ed Miliband wants not only to dilute union power but also to revive politics
(35 minutes later)
Ed Miliband's proposals to reform the contentious Labour-union alliance are as much about trying to revive politics as diluting the union-party link. He believes the current shape of the link has become a disincentive to engagement in politics, or even a substitute for it.Ed Miliband's proposals to reform the contentious Labour-union alliance are as much about trying to revive politics as diluting the union-party link. He believes the current shape of the link has become a disincentive to engagement in politics, or even a substitute for it.
On both right and left there has been criticism of the way union leaders have used armies of largely passive levy-payers to wield influence in Labour. On both right and left there has been criticism of the way union leaders have used armies of largely passive levy payers to wield influence in Labour.
The strength of a union's vote at the party conference has always been a function of the number of levy-payers it affiliates to the party. Those levy-payers in turn do not opt in to pay their dues, let alone pay affiliation fees to the Labour party. The strength of a union's vote at the party conference has always been a function of the number of levy payers it affiliates to the party. Those levy payers in turn do not opt in to pay their dues, let alone pay affiliation fees to the Labour party.
Instead union members have to opt out if they do not wish to pay, and some unions do not spell out that option with much clarity. Not surprisingly, 90% of union members pay.Instead union members have to opt out if they do not wish to pay, and some unions do not spell out that option with much clarity. Not surprisingly, 90% of union members pay.
Successive Labour leaders have tried to harness these political levy-payers into an active force.John Smith introduced one member, one vote for parliamentary selections, urging union members to join the party to vote. Tony Blair tried to recruit political levy-payers to the party, offering them cut-rate prices, a scheme Ed Miliband closed down last week due to fears it was being abused. Successive Labour leaders have tried to harness these political levy payers into an active force.
John Smith introduced one member, one vote for parliamentary selections, urging union members to join the party to vote. Tony Blair tried to recruit political levy payers to the party, offering them cut-rate prices, a scheme Ed Miliband closed down last week due to fears it was being abused.
In the 2010 Refounding Labour document, drawn up by Peter Hain, Miliband proposed a new form of Labour supporter – the registered supporter.In the 2010 Refounding Labour document, drawn up by Peter Hain, Miliband proposed a new form of Labour supporter – the registered supporter.
But they had no formal voting rights – other than a pledge that at some distant point if 50,000 supporters were registered, this group would get 3% of the vote in party leadership elections.But they had no formal voting rights – other than a pledge that at some distant point if 50,000 supporters were registered, this group would get 3% of the vote in party leadership elections.
Not surprisingly, this offer of second-class membership has not taken off. The party claims to have 15,000-20,000 registered supporters, well below the 50,000 planned.Not surprisingly, this offer of second-class membership has not taken off. The party claims to have 15,000-20,000 registered supporters, well below the 50,000 planned.
Refounding Labour also failed to create an effective means for local parties to communicate directly with levy-payers, largely because the unions would not allow it. The unions jealously guarded these lists, citing data protection laws. Refounding Labour also failed to create an effective means for local parties to communicate directly with levy payers, largely because the unions would not allow it. The unions jealously guarded these lists, citing data protection laws.
The new proposals try to learn from these mistakes. Registered supporters will face no membership fee, and will be allowed to vote for the Labour candidate in London mayoral elections and in most parliamentary selections. The current electoral college for Labour's London mayor, giving union levy-payers 50% of the vote, will be abolished. The new proposals try to learn from these mistakes. Registered supporters will face no membership fee, and will be allowed to vote for the Labour candidate in London mayoral elections and in most parliamentary selections. The current electoral college for Labour's London mayor, giving union levy payers 50% of the vote, will be abolished.
But probably the biggest reform is to require levy-payers to make a conscious decision to affiliate to Labour. The army of levy-payers on which union leaders depend for their power in the party vanishes at a stroke. But probably the biggest reform is to require levy payers to make a conscious decision to affiliate to Labour. The army of levy payers on which union leaders depend for their power in the party vanishes at a stroke.
It also opens the way for the party to start having a direct, healthy relationship with union political levy-payers at constituency level that is not mediated by union leaders. It also opens the way for the party to start having a direct, healthy relationship with union political levy payers at constituency level that is not mediated by union leaders.
The party hopes tens of thousands of levy-payers will register as supporters and become active – if this develops, it is possible the unions may lose their current 50% share of the vote at party conference. The party hopes tens of thousands of levy payers will register as supporters and become active – if this develops, it is possible the unions may lose their current 50% share of the vote at party conference.
For critics, the proposals will be judged purely by whether they terminate the union-party link, and anything falling short of this will be dismissed. Yet, as the former transport union leader Jack Jones said in the 1970s, no one can imagine divorce between the two wings of the movement – murder yes, divorce never.For critics, the proposals will be judged purely by whether they terminate the union-party link, and anything falling short of this will be dismissed. Yet, as the former transport union leader Jack Jones said in the 1970s, no one can imagine divorce between the two wings of the movement – murder yes, divorce never.