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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Stop 'bank-rolling' Labour call | Stop 'bank-rolling' Labour call |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Plaid Cymru has launched a website encouraging trade unionists to stop funding Labour, its coalition partners in the Welsh assembly government. | Plaid Cymru has launched a website encouraging trade unionists to stop funding Labour, its coalition partners in the Welsh assembly government. |
| The party says some are unaware union subscriptons help "bank-roll" Labour and the site aims to help them halt contributions. | |
| Labour called it a "particularly weak stunt from a tired party machine". | |
| The Conservatives said the Valentine's Day move showed the parties were "in need of some relationship counselling". | |
| Meanwhile, Graham Smith, secretary of the Labour affiliated unions association, Tulo, rubbished the website. | |
| "Nobody should forget Labour's roots within the trade union movement," insisted Mr Smith. | "Nobody should forget Labour's roots within the trade union movement," insisted Mr Smith. |
| "This is Plaid showing their true colours." | "This is Plaid showing their true colours." |
| This is a particularly weak stunt from a tired party machine Labour Party spokesperson | This is a particularly weak stunt from a tired party machine Labour Party spokesperson |
| But Plaid Cymru AM, Leanne Wood, has insisted that the website is helping union members tackle a real issue. | But Plaid Cymru AM, Leanne Wood, has insisted that the website is helping union members tackle a real issue. |
| "Plaid has a long history of supporting trade unionism and workers' struggles in Wales. In the last decade, many of those struggles have been against the Labour government," said the AM, who chairs Plaid's trade union section, Undeb. | "Plaid has a long history of supporting trade unionism and workers' struggles in Wales. In the last decade, many of those struggles have been against the Labour government," said the AM, who chairs Plaid's trade union section, Undeb. |
| "Trade unions bankroll the Labour Party; over the last six years unions have contributed £60m and many members are not aware that their money is going to the Labour Party. | "Trade unions bankroll the Labour Party; over the last six years unions have contributed £60m and many members are not aware that their money is going to the Labour Party. |
| "Plaid is launching a website today which will simplify what can be a difficult process." | "Plaid is launching a website today which will simplify what can be a difficult process." |
| The website named "Stop subsidising Labour" lets users click a link to a dozen of the UK's most prominent trade unions, bringing up a form to opt-out of political contributions. | The website named "Stop subsidising Labour" lets users click a link to a dozen of the UK's most prominent trade unions, bringing up a form to opt-out of political contributions. |
| "Stunt" | "Stunt" |
| But the move has clearly angered some officials in Labour, especially as the two parties are coalition partners in the Welsh Assembly Government. | But the move has clearly angered some officials in Labour, especially as the two parties are coalition partners in the Welsh Assembly Government. |
| A Labour spokesman said: "This is a particularly weak stunt from a tired party machine. | A Labour spokesman said: "This is a particularly weak stunt from a tired party machine. |
| "Trade union members around Wales will be asking themselves where Plaid Cymru MPs were when the minimum wage was voted on in Parliament. The answer is, in bed." | "Trade union members around Wales will be asking themselves where Plaid Cymru MPs were when the minimum wage was voted on in Parliament. The answer is, in bed." |
| Conservative assembly leader Nick Bourne added: "If this is sort of Valentine's Day present Plaid Cymru is giving to Labour, the coalition partners are clearly in need of some serious relationship counselling. | Conservative assembly leader Nick Bourne added: "If this is sort of Valentine's Day present Plaid Cymru is giving to Labour, the coalition partners are clearly in need of some serious relationship counselling. |
| "I'd hate to see what they send if they ever do fall out of love with each other. Somehow I doubt we'll have long to wait." | "I'd hate to see what they send if they ever do fall out of love with each other. Somehow I doubt we'll have long to wait." |