The Times is reporting today that ‘the Conservatives are planning an assault on Labour’s historic link with the unions’. Current arrangements whereby a member opts out of payment of a political levy will be replaced by a legal requirement to opt in. http://www.timesplus.co.uk/tto/news/login=false&url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article2588587.ece
(subscription required)
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude is leading the attack and on Thursday will give evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life. A key plank of the Coalition agreement upon the formation of the new Government was a commitment to review political donations.
Writing in the Telegraph in March former Labour MP Martin Salter made an excellent case for the integrity and transparency of the Union-Labour link when it came under attack during the opening salvos of the general election campaign.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/msalter/100030427/trade-union-money-is-the-cleanest-cash-in-politics/
