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Ed Miliband reforms will boost union influence, says Unite leader Ed Miliband reforms will boost union influence, says Unite leader
(2 months later)
Ed Miliband's proposals for a recast relationship between the unions and Labour could increase rather than undermine union influence within the party, Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, said .Ed Miliband's proposals for a recast relationship between the unions and Labour could increase rather than undermine union influence within the party, Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, said .
McCluskey admitted that the status quo was "indefensible" saying he could not go in front of the TV cameras and pretend to speak on behalf of a million Unite members who pay the political levy since half his union members do not vote Labour.McCluskey admitted that the status quo was "indefensible" saying he could not go in front of the TV cameras and pretend to speak on behalf of a million Unite members who pay the political levy since half his union members do not vote Labour.
But he said Miliband's reform proposals, rather than being a threat, represented a big opportunity to increase Unite's influence. He told a meeting of Unite activists in London: "This is an opportunity to do our political strategy better than before and to have enhanced policy input because our voice and our votes come to be seen as legitimate."But he said Miliband's reform proposals, rather than being a threat, represented a big opportunity to increase Unite's influence. He told a meeting of Unite activists in London: "This is an opportunity to do our political strategy better than before and to have enhanced policy input because our voice and our votes come to be seen as legitimate."
He also promised the reforms will allow the union to have "more impact in parliamentary selections because they become fair, transparent and open to all Labour members, individual and affiliated".He also promised the reforms will allow the union to have "more impact in parliamentary selections because they become fair, transparent and open to all Labour members, individual and affiliated".
The union would, he added, be using its political funds for different kinds of initiatives in the party, and not just handing it over annually to the Labour party as in the past.The union would, he added, be using its political funds for different kinds of initiatives in the party, and not just handing it over annually to the Labour party as in the past.
In his biggest reform, Miliband has proposed that individual political levy payers in unions be asked to choose to affiliate to the party rather than be affiliated as a bloc by their union leaderships. Miliband wants to put the measures to a special party conference next spring.In his biggest reform, Miliband has proposed that individual political levy payers in unions be asked to choose to affiliate to the party rather than be affiliated as a bloc by their union leaderships. Miliband wants to put the measures to a special party conference next spring.
McCluskey said his main aim will be to ensure as many Unite members as possible already paying the political levy now sign up individually to be affiliated members. He said for the union to recruit members to the party, the offer has to be an attractive one, and Miliband "cannot offer a pinkish shadow of the coalition that gives the City a veto over economic decisions".McCluskey said his main aim will be to ensure as many Unite members as possible already paying the political levy now sign up individually to be affiliated members. He said for the union to recruit members to the party, the offer has to be an attractive one, and Miliband "cannot offer a pinkish shadow of the coalition that gives the City a veto over economic decisions".
He insisted the new breed of affiliated members "must have the right to take part in parliamentary selections, an equal say in the election of the party leader and the right to a level playing field in the party so their views count as much as the unelected millionaires bankrolling the Labour party, and using their funds to stuff the parliamentary party with Oxbridge Blairites".He insisted the new breed of affiliated members "must have the right to take part in parliamentary selections, an equal say in the election of the party leader and the right to a level playing field in the party so their views count as much as the unelected millionaires bankrolling the Labour party, and using their funds to stuff the parliamentary party with Oxbridge Blairites".
To applause from the crowd, he demanded: "Get Lord Sainsbury's millions out of Labour party democracy."To applause from the crowd, he demanded: "Get Lord Sainsbury's millions out of Labour party democracy."
He said direct payments to the party by the union would shrink "quite dramatically" as a result of the fall in the number of union members automatically affiliated to the party. But he described union money as the cleanest in British politics, and pledged his party would continue to make direct gifts to the party, rather than just through affiliation fees.He said direct payments to the party by the union would shrink "quite dramatically" as a result of the fall in the number of union members automatically affiliated to the party. But he described union money as the cleanest in British politics, and pledged his party would continue to make direct gifts to the party, rather than just through affiliation fees.
He also turned on the tabloid newspapers, saying: "We know you are sleazy bullies. We know you love to kick the poor and weak while licking the boots of the rich and powerful. But if you think you are going to make us bend the knee to your hate-filled agenda you are stupid as your predecessors who said in the 1930s, 'Hooray for the black shirts', when the Daily Mail was supporting fascism. You will never ever make us compromise on our principles."He also turned on the tabloid newspapers, saying: "We know you are sleazy bullies. We know you love to kick the poor and weak while licking the boots of the rich and powerful. But if you think you are going to make us bend the knee to your hate-filled agenda you are stupid as your predecessors who said in the 1930s, 'Hooray for the black shirts', when the Daily Mail was supporting fascism. You will never ever make us compromise on our principles."
He also insisted that the union had done nothing wrong in the controversial Falkirk parliamentary selection that prompted Miliband to bring in the union reforms. McCluskey said: "None of you have got anything to be ashamed of and you should hold your heads high."He also insisted that the union had done nothing wrong in the controversial Falkirk parliamentary selection that prompted Miliband to bring in the union reforms. McCluskey said: "None of you have got anything to be ashamed of and you should hold your heads high."
He again criticised Labour's decision to pass the Falkirk report to the police, saying people would rather see officers "looking after rapists and murderers than wasting their time with this".He again criticised Labour's decision to pass the Falkirk report to the police, saying people would rather see officers "looking after rapists and murderers than wasting their time with this".
The education secretary, Michael Gove, responded to the speech by echoing the view that the reforms will increase union influence.The education secretary, Michael Gove, responded to the speech by echoing the view that the reforms will increase union influence.
At an event hosted by Populus in central London, he said: "Far from liberating Ed Miliband to take a more centrist position, so far the reforms appear to be enhancing the capacity of Len McCluskey, and others like him, to set a more left-wing agenda."At an event hosted by Populus in central London, he said: "Far from liberating Ed Miliband to take a more centrist position, so far the reforms appear to be enhancing the capacity of Len McCluskey, and others like him, to set a more left-wing agenda."
He said: "Rather than money flowing automatically, money will go to the Labour party depending on whether or not the trade union general secretaries, who retain control of their union's political funds, decide that the policies and the candidate selection of the Labour party are in accordance with their wishes."He said: "Rather than money flowing automatically, money will go to the Labour party depending on whether or not the trade union general secretaries, who retain control of their union's political funds, decide that the policies and the candidate selection of the Labour party are in accordance with their wishes."
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