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| Ed Miliband defiant over union plans after Falkirk row | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband has vowed to press ahead with plans to reform his party's historic links with the unions in the wake of an investigation into vote-rigging in Falkirk. | Labour leader Ed Miliband has vowed to press ahead with plans to reform his party's historic links with the unions in the wake of an investigation into vote-rigging in Falkirk. |
| He said what happened in the consistency was no source of pride. | He said what happened in the consistency was no source of pride. |
| But he insisted that it was right to see through his planned changes, despite the potential financial cost. | But he insisted that it was right to see through his planned changes, despite the potential financial cost. |
| Union leaders have criticised his plan to make union members opt-in if they want to back Labour. | Union leaders have criticised his plan to make union members opt-in if they want to back Labour. |
| Mr Miliband said the party had been through a "proper process" and involved the police to investigate allegations that the Unite union attempted to rig the selection of a parliamentary candidate in the Falkirk constituency. | Mr Miliband said the party had been through a "proper process" and involved the police to investigate allegations that the Unite union attempted to rig the selection of a parliamentary candidate in the Falkirk constituency. |
| Asked if he should apologise to Unite - after the party's probe found no rules broken - Mr Miliband told the BBC that "nobody should be proud about what happened in Falkirk". | Asked if he should apologise to Unite - after the party's probe found no rules broken - Mr Miliband told the BBC that "nobody should be proud about what happened in Falkirk". |
| But he went on: "This is a bigger reform of the party that we're talking about, much bigger than Falkirk and that's what we've now got to focus on." | But he went on: "This is a bigger reform of the party that we're talking about, much bigger than Falkirk and that's what we've now got to focus on." |
| Mr Miliband insists that removing the automatic affiliation fees paid by millions of union members to his party will ensure that only those with an active interest are involved in future. | Mr Miliband insists that removing the automatic affiliation fees paid by millions of union members to his party will ensure that only those with an active interest are involved in future. |
| 'Challenging' | 'Challenging' |
| They will be asked instead whether they want to "opt in" to become full members of the party. | They will be asked instead whether they want to "opt in" to become full members of the party. |
| Mr Miliband acknowledges this will cost Labour much of its funding, but argues it will make the party stronger. | Mr Miliband acknowledges this will cost Labour much of its funding, but argues it will make the party stronger. |
| Unison's Dave Prentis said Mr Miliband was "living in cloud cuckoo land", while the GMB's Paul Kenny claimed some of his decisions seemed like they had been made up "after a night out". | Unison's Dave Prentis said Mr Miliband was "living in cloud cuckoo land", while the GMB's Paul Kenny claimed some of his decisions seemed like they had been made up "after a night out". |
| But in a speech at a TUC conference dinner later, deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman will tell union leaders they are "on the same side" and should fight the Tories together at a "dangerous moment". | But in a speech at a TUC conference dinner later, deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman will tell union leaders they are "on the same side" and should fight the Tories together at a "dangerous moment". |
| In her speech, Ms Harman will try to calm tensions, saying "it is when things are most difficult and most challenging for people out there, that we - the trade union and Labour movement - must stick together". | In her speech, Ms Harman will try to calm tensions, saying "it is when things are most difficult and most challenging for people out there, that we - the trade union and Labour movement - must stick together". |
| Ms Harman will say unions and Labour form the "bulwark against reaction and the only hope for progress", continuing: "I am proud of the link between the Labour Party and the trade unions. I do not want it weakened. Nor does Ed. We want to see it strengthened and deepened. That is what is at the heart of our plans for party reform." | Ms Harman will say unions and Labour form the "bulwark against reaction and the only hope for progress", continuing: "I am proud of the link between the Labour Party and the trade unions. I do not want it weakened. Nor does Ed. We want to see it strengthened and deepened. That is what is at the heart of our plans for party reform." |
| Ms Harman will say: "I know there are some of you who have concerns about the path we are embarking upon but we need to be clear about why Ed has taken this decision. | Ms Harman will say: "I know there are some of you who have concerns about the path we are embarking upon but we need to be clear about why Ed has taken this decision. |
| "We need to re-evaluate and renew our relationship with members because it is that link which matters so much - especially in these tough economic times." | "We need to re-evaluate and renew our relationship with members because it is that link which matters so much - especially in these tough economic times." |
| 'Dangerous moment' | 'Dangerous moment' |
| The GMB has already announced it is cutting the amount of money it gives Labour via affiliation fees. | The GMB has already announced it is cutting the amount of money it gives Labour via affiliation fees. |
| Ms Harman will say: "There are difficult decisions that we have to work through ahead of our special conference next March... we all need to think carefully about who gains from any falling out and any division. | Ms Harman will say: "There are difficult decisions that we have to work through ahead of our special conference next March... we all need to think carefully about who gains from any falling out and any division. |
| "If we don't have unity, there [are] going to be winners and losers. The winners will be the Tories and the losers will be our constituents and your members. This is a dangerous moment." | "If we don't have unity, there [are] going to be winners and losers. The winners will be the Tories and the losers will be our constituents and your members. This is a dangerous moment." |
| Ms Harman's speech comes ahead of Mr Miliband's address to the conference on Tuesday. | Ms Harman's speech comes ahead of Mr Miliband's address to the conference on Tuesday. |
| Asked if she expected him to be booed, TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said he would get a "good reception". | Asked if she expected him to be booed, TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said he would get a "good reception". |
| She added that her advice to both sides was to "shake hands and move on". | She added that her advice to both sides was to "shake hands and move on". |
| Ms O'Grady, who addressed the TUC on Monday for the first time since she was appointed as its leader earlier this year, said that "union money - the few pence freely given every week, by nurses, shop workers and truck drivers - is the cleanest cash in politics". | Ms O'Grady, who addressed the TUC on Monday for the first time since she was appointed as its leader earlier this year, said that "union money - the few pence freely given every week, by nurses, shop workers and truck drivers - is the cleanest cash in politics". |
| "For too long, politics has been controlled by those who already have far too much money and far too much power. Half the Conservative Party's funding comes from the City," she said. | "For too long, politics has been controlled by those who already have far too much money and far too much power. Half the Conservative Party's funding comes from the City," she said. |
| "In contrast, unions are Britain's biggest democratic membership movement of ordinary people. If unions were denied a political voice we wouldn't have had the 1944 Education Act, we wouldn't have the NHS, we wouldn't have equal pay for women, we wouldn't have a minimum wage." | "In contrast, unions are Britain's biggest democratic membership movement of ordinary people. If unions were denied a political voice we wouldn't have had the 1944 Education Act, we wouldn't have the NHS, we wouldn't have equal pay for women, we wouldn't have a minimum wage." |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna rejected suggestions that a cut in union funding would mean financial disaster for Labour, saying: "Currently the majority of our money comes from small donations and members. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna rejected suggestions that a cut in union funding would mean financial disaster for Labour, saying: "Currently the majority of our money comes from small donations and members. |
| "I see this as part of a bigger debate about our politics. I think we have a situation where people, in many respects, are more political than ever, but have never felt so distant from party politics." | "I see this as part of a bigger debate about our politics. I think we have a situation where people, in many respects, are more political than ever, but have never felt so distant from party politics." |
| Ms O'Grady asked political parties to make five pledges to voters: to restore the goal of full employment, build one million new council and affordable homes, guarantee fair pay, strengthen the welfare state and ensure fair rights at work. | Ms O'Grady asked political parties to make five pledges to voters: to restore the goal of full employment, build one million new council and affordable homes, guarantee fair pay, strengthen the welfare state and ensure fair rights at work. |
| Delegates at the Bournemouth gathering also voted for a "campaign of co-ordinated industrial action", overwhelmingly backing a Unison motion which also calls for zero hour contracts to be outlawed. | Delegates at the Bournemouth gathering also voted for a "campaign of co-ordinated industrial action", overwhelmingly backing a Unison motion which also calls for zero hour contracts to be outlawed. |