Labour leader Ed Miliband unveils his long-awaited changes to union membership of the party, but in doing so may risk destabilising a historic source of funding.
Labour leader Ed Miliband has unveiled sweeping changes to the way union members fund the party and take part in its elections, tying up what he calls the “unfinished business” of membership reform first set in train by former leader John Smith 20 years ago.
The changes are aimed at strengthening the party’s links with individual union members, while lessening the influence of trade union bosses on the party.
Under the reforms, Labour’s leader will no longer be elected by the party’s electoral college, which currently gives a third of all votes to the unions, party members and elected MPs and MEPs. The party will now operate a “one member, one vote” policy.
Only MPs will be able to nominate leadership candidates, and they will need a higher level of support – 20 per cent – than now.
In further changes, union members will need to “opt in” to leadership elections, by becoming an affiliated member of the party, and will also need to consent to giving money to Labour.
Labour is also bringing in US-style primaries for the election of its mayoral candidates, allowing non-members to vote.
In addition, only full party members will be allowed to choose parliamentary and council candidates, taking votes away from “affiliated members” who are not members of a union.
Mr Miliband’s reforms flesh out changes first announced last summer in the wake of allegations that votes were rigged in the Falkirk by-election.
Labour said the changes will help “bridge the gulf between political debate in Westminster and the rest of Britain, as well as begin to restore trust in our democracy”.
But some party members fear that Labour could be hugely outspent by the Conservatives at the next election because they are discarding the traditional security of union funding.
Ed Miliband rose to his position off the back of union support, but his reforms mark the most radical shake-up of Labour’s union membership in a generation. At present, automatic affiliation raises about £8m each year for the party.
The reforms be set out in greater detail by Lord Collins next week, who has been consulting the party and affiliates about how to overhaul party membership.
The financing changes will be brought in over the next five years, and other reforms will be voted upon by a special Labour conference in March.