Unite: Labour can't function without our money
James Forsyth 11:42am
With the TUC conference coming up, Derek Simpson, leader of Unite, flexes his muscles in an interview with The Independent. He tells Jane Merrick that Labour couldn’t fight a proper election campaign without Unite’s financial backing:
Considering that the unions gave Labour £11.4 million between the first quarters of 2008 and 2009, Simpson is probably right. (Worryingly for the party one of Simpson’s most likely successors is standing on a platform of ending the union’s donations to Labour). But by stating the case so baldly, Simpson is giving the Tories ammunition to claim that Labour can’t get serious about public spending because it is in the pockets of the union."What are the consequences of us not giving Labour money? That will really impair, fatally damage, any chance of Labour winning a general election. We give money to allow the Labour Party to function."
Simpson also seems keen to pick a fight with the Blairites to demonstrate the power shift in the party. He slams them as “thick” and “Tories” who would rather “have a Tory government than a proper Labour government”.
There is no repeat of Simpson’s call for Brown to stand down if he is not prepared to change tack but the praise for Brown is hardly fulsome. Simpson contents himself with saying that he is “as satisfied with Gordon as I can be with any of them” and argues that Brown should move radically to the left because “He's nothing to lose because he's going to lose anyway.” His line that “Gordon is very often shuffling and hesitant” is also unlikely to go down well with the Prime Minister.
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Anon
September 13th, 2009 12:16pm Report this commentI have just listened to Derek Simpson...What can one say.
The Conservatives will ruin the economy?Public sector workers will lose their jobs?(Ask any JCPLUS or HMRC worker which party have overseen MASSIVE job loses and early retirements of immense knowledge due to office closures?)Babies will die?Your children will leave school illiterate/inumerate?
We are all doooomed!
What bollocks!The union big wigs are scared s***less that their mealticket to loony politics are swiftly(not a moment too soon)coming to an end!
The Labour party and the union bosses ruin this country NOT Conservatives and party members know that especially PCS members!Again.How trustworthy are you Fraser on annonimity?
JohnOfEnfield
September 13th, 2009 12:26pm Report this commentPlease remember that the Unions could not function without Labour.
How many millions has this Labour Government given to the unions as part of a so-called "modernisation" programme? This money then allows the unions to donate £11.4 million to the Labour Party.
Very symmetrical. How corrupt can you get?
strapworld
September 13th, 2009 12:58pm Report this commentMuch has been made of the BNP leader going on Question Time and being subjected to the razor? sharp brain of Jack Straw- the mind boggles.
BUT, having had the experience of being in a meeting of the gathered brains of the TUC at Congress House, granted a few years ago, and their collective ignorance confirmed!
I would love SKY to organise a debate on the present plight of our economy and the need for massive cuts in government spending, with these union leaders (one at a time) against people with a real grasp on economics (certainly no politician!) I would suggest Fraser Nelson, our highly respected editor, as one. But would love to read who others would nominate to put these union leaders in their place and publicly humiliate them.
It would be good television.
Short the UK
September 13th, 2009 1:30pm Report this commentThey can huff and puff but they must be running scared because the New Labour party is over:
UK Boom - 1994 to 2007:
~Rising property prices.
~Rising government spending.
~Rising government employment.
~Rising retail spending.
~Rising taxes from The City.
UK "Shallow" Depression - 2007 to 20??:
~Falling/stagnant property prices.
~Falling government spending.
~Falling government employment.
~Falling/stagnant retail spending.
~Falling/stagnant taxes from The City.
I think the UK is in "skewflation" - falling/stagnant asset prices and a rising cost of living from higher taxes, little income growth and some imported inflation as Sterling reamins weak. The UK is adjusting to become a relatively poorer country. We will have structurally high unemployment, rising crime, social strife and many strikes in the public sector as the unions fight to save their last bastion of power.
From the Nice decade to the Nasty decade....
colin
September 13th, 2009 2:12pm Report this commentStrapworld:
A debate with the following:
1. Any FAT CAT union boss - Simpson would be a good start.
2. Peter Hitchens.
3. Norman Tebbit.
4. Fraser Nelson.
5. Martin Bright.
6. The Heffalump
I'd pay to see that...
Alfred T Mahan
September 13th, 2009 3:31pm Report this commentJames, pass Colin's comment on to Fraser, will you? Far more sensible than putting up a pay wall...
Sir Graphus
September 13th, 2009 4:08pm Report this commentSo, Labour have no option but to adopt union friendly policies which will include porkbarrelling of public sector jobs with rising taxes for the "rich", the rich being pretty much everyone who's just trying to be self-sufficient in this country. OK then, chaps, say goodbye to your ministerial cars for a dozen years...
... but on the other hand, Maggie would have lost the 1983 election if it weren't for the Falklands and Michael Foot. The medicine for the 70s disease(which has now recurred) is pretty painful. Not many govts can survive presiding over a Britain full of Short's predictions (and he seems like a clever fellow).
Unite's comments are another nail in Brown and Labour's coffin. But in 2015, it could be terrible.
David Lindsay
September 13th, 2009 5:42pm Report this commentWell, at least we know who they are. One up on the Tories. But the unions should long ago have started funding candidates, of any party of none, based on public support for specific policies, including the record to match on the part of those seeking re-election.
Alf Tupper
September 13th, 2009 6:23pm Report this commentAs a member of Unite, I would love to hear from Mr Simpson, an explanation why he gives my money and blessing, to a government which has openly shipped in millions of foreign workers in order to supress my earning capacity?
How is any of this working in my interest?
strapworld
September 13th, 2009 8:30pm Report this commentColin. I would pay as well. Love the idea of Norman Tebbit he is still razor sharp!
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