Tony Blair has provoked an angry reaction from one of Britain's biggest unions by demanding 'modernisation' of the relationship between the Labour Party and union members. In a speech in London, Mr Blair warned that the spectacle of the unions using their block vote to oppose Government policy at Labour's annual conference damaged the party's credibility.
The Labour leader argued that the party's National Policy Forum (NPF) should be the focus of policy formation, rather than an annual conference resembling a "masochism festival." Speaking to a conference organised by Progress, a party organisation promoting radical, progressive policies, Mr Blair called for a more direct relationship between the party and the three million union members who help to fund Labour through the political levy in their subscriptions.
The Prime Minister argued that a package of reforms is needed to ensure that Labour remains "forever in touch" with the aspirations of ordinary voters, continues to dominate the centre ground of British politics - and keeps its grip on power.
But Tony Woodley, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, responded: "It is strange that party leaders only want to 'revive or modernise' our relationship after suffering heavy defeats at conference."During Labour's week-long conference in Brighton last month, the party leadership suffered four union-inspired defeats, over the expanding role of the private sector in the NHS, secondary strike action, linking pensions to earnings, and council housing.
Mr Woodley continued: "They are aiming at the wrong target. It is time to wake up and smell the coffee on issues that matter most to working people."http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2094802005