Smoke and mirrors

Before we begin, let’s review a few facts:

1. Unite’s predecessors were instrumental in the founding of the Labour party in 1900

2. Unite represents almost 2 million people today (and other unions a further 5 million)

3. Since 2007 it has donated £11m to the Labour party, an average of £5.50 per person

4. Lord Ashcroft, one man, has donated £3,628,238.62, an average of £3,628,238.62 per person, all through his private company, Bearwood Corporate Services.

5. Trade unions are democratic organisations, dedicated to the betterment of conditions for working people. If you do not want any of your subscription to be donated to a (the Labour) party, you can opt out at any time.

The simple fact of the matter is, Unite are doing the job their members signed up for, representing their interests to the powers that be, in much the same way that the Association of British Insurers or the Law Society represent their professions to government and opposition.

And don’t we want to encourage more participation in the democratic process? With almost 7 million members, won’t trade unions play an important part in this? And if members do not agree with the direction their union is taking, they are free to try to alter it or resign their membership.

Basically, this is an attempt by the Conservatives and their allies in the press, to distract attention from their own problems with regards party financing. They are trying to present Unite’s support of Labour as an equivalent, or worse, to Lord Ashcroft’s of the Tories. The important thing to remember is, however, one man contributed to the Tories 700,000 times the average amount one Unite member did to the Labour party.

Noone wants to see the BA strikes go ahead, but all the stirring by the opposition and the supine media is merely allowing them to escape scrutiny of their own embarrassing financial arrangements.

P