With the 2010 General Election drawing ever closer the New Statesman reports on Labour’s increasing reliance on trade union donations and the steep reduction in donations from rich individuals.
“As donations from the rich have dried up, the party has become increasingly dependent on trade union money. In the first nine months of 2009, trade unions accounted for 72 per cent of the total £10.9m in donations to Labour, up from 52 per cent in 2008. Back in 1994, when Tony Blair became Labour leader, trade unions accounted for just a third of the party's annual income”
http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2010/01/labour-election-donations
The 3 million workers (15% are UNISON members) who pay the political levy will be looking to the affiliated unions to ensure that the Labour manifesto reflects union concerns on jobs, pensions, public services and social justice rather than the failed pro market policies of New Labour. Unfortunately the website of the TULO organisation, which co-ordinates the activities of the 15 affiliated unions, sheds no light on Labour’s draft manifesto.
>http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/
