The leadership of the Labour Party is taking steps to avert a showdown with affiliated unions over reforming the union-party relationship, which aims to limit unions’ influence within the party. Indeed, it is likely that the vote on this proposal will fail at a special conference on 1 March 2014, which will decide the issue. Ed Miliband, leader of the party, is proposing that changes to the way union members become affiliated to the party are delayed for five years – or are applied only to new recruits. (Ref. 130765)
The move has two aims. First, to reassure the leaders of the affiliated unions (especially the big three of the GMB, Unite and Unison) that affiliates will be able to continue to exert collective influence over Labour and its policies. And, second, to and ensure any financial loss to Labour – from a rapid falloff in union members paying the political levy to the party – does not lead to financial chaos for the party ahead of the general election of May 2015, thus, reducing its ability to fight
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