Mission Impossible - the Tories reaching out to trade unionists

The gradual weakening of Labour’s links with trade unionists provides an opportunity for the Conservative Party to reach out to trade unions according to a recent article in the Economist magazine. Ideas being promoted by the pressure group Renewal - which aims to broaden Tory appeal among working class, northern and ethnic minority voters - include free party membership for trade unionists and Tory backed slates in internal union elections. Given the onslaught on trade union and workers’ rights waged by both current and past Tory Ministers this initiative is about as viable as a Bargain Booze franchise in Saudi Arabia.

Trade Unions are Capitalists? Pull the other one!

These days the notion of a Tory trade unionist is as contradictory as a meat eating vegetarian. Yet it wasn't always the case, as UNISONActive recalled in a 2011 blog post http://unisonactive.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/lost-world-of-tory-trade-unionism.html

Tebbit eggs on Ed to undermine union call to arms

Tory dinosaur Lord Tebbit - who has no interest whatsoever in Labour's future success - uses his Telegraph blog to call on Ed Miliband to subvert union democracy in the looming pensions dispute: '.... he will have to lead the calls for union members to ignore their leaders. It will not be easy for him, but then leadership is often about taking tough decisions and getting them right. What is more, there would be a huge longer term dividend for him in establishing himself as a man who speaks for his country, not just his party' http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/normantebbit/100105541/poor-ed-miliband-needs-the-courage-to-face-down-his-demented-trade-union-backers/