Is Milliband (Red Ed) wise or just cornered ?

[youngmafbog]

Ed appears to be opposing his paymaters as he faces unions over strikes and admitted Labour spent too much in government. He also said Labour would have made spending cuts if it had won the election. (So much for all the slagging of the coalition! )

But my question here is not about Tories vs labour but is it really wise to oppose your paymasters on such a fundamental belief and where do the voters who do agree with the unions go now ? Or maybe there are not as many of that ilk as left leaning liberals would have us believe ?

Discuss ...

[Gromit]

The Unions are responsible for less than 30% of Labour Party funding so it is wrong to call them the paymasters.

As the importance of the Unions has decreased, their share of the Electoral College (How many votes they get) has also decreased.

Better not base your questions on out of date assumptions (or right wing newspapers' propaganda).

[Postdog]

any many union members do not contribute to party funding - they can opt out, as I did when labour started to advocate privatising royal mail who I worked for

[flip_flop]

A 30% shareholder in a company would have considerable influence, and therefore I'd suggest that if 30% of Labour's funding comes from the unions they obviously wield considerable power and will have a direct influence on policy.

So the term 'paymasters' is pretty apt.

[jake-the-peg]

Well Osborne didn't quite have the nerve to oppose his did he?

Yes banking reforms to safeguard the nation has to happen

and it's so important and urgent you've got 8 years to do it in!


Give us a break!

[modeller]

It is not just a matter of funding. Should the unions have any votes at all within the party. It was their votes which made Ed the leader .

Also whilst it is true Union members can opt out they are discouraged doing so . I was certainly discouraged and the opt out box was hidden in the fine print. If they are going to include an option it should be OPT IN .
I bet that wouldn't be hidden.

Gromit If 30% of your salary was coming from one source I don't think you would want to upset that source.

[Gromit]

Modeller,

50% of donations to the Conservatives come from the City.

http://www.guardian.c...anks-financial-sector

Not wanting to upset a major source of funding might explain why they are being soft with the banks and excessive bonuses.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// Better not base your questions on out of date assumptions (or right wing newspapers' propaganda).///

And I don't suppose the Left-Wing press doesn't dish out any propaganda?

If it was left up to the Left-Wingers there would not be any other newspapers, only their own.

Incidentally I think youngmafbog was using the word 'Paymaster' not in the truest sense of the word, ie a Paymaster is someone who pays out wages or salaries.

But nevertheless a body that pays out almost a third of the Labour party's funding, is still a body to be reckoned with, and the Labour party would be wise not to upset them..

[modeller]

// 50% of donations to the Conservatives come from the City. //

But they dont have the direct votes to change the Tory manifesto and appoint its leader, and they dont have the power to bring entire industries to a halt.

Remember not only do the unions pay their 30% but in addition they directly finance a number of MPs . Who obviously can't go against their wishes.

[rov1100]

With most union members in dire straights with their mortgages and living costs most would object to a strike anyway. Its only the die hard militants who are trying to assert their diminishing power.

[Quizmonster]

Jake, I totally agree with the plan to deal with the banks eight years hence, but on only one condition...that no banker gets a bonus until then either and that the money they WOULD have got is paid into the public purse!

[emmie]

would suggest that 30percent is a considerable contribution, and the news report this morning said that there could be a strike of up to a million public sector workers over pension rights, i think Mr Milliband is up a gum tree which ever way he turns. As an aside i do think the wrong Milliband got the job. Not a big fan of either brother, but David would have made the better leader.

[Slapshot]

I would just suggest Milliband is pointless, if he's labours best option at opposition and an alternative party to vote for, we're stuffed!