Lord Mandelson Still Paid £8,600 a Month by EU – Telegraph
Those Leadership Odds in Full – Mr Eugenides
Knocking on Betjeman’s Door – David Allen Green
New FSA Regulations Will Increase Insider Trading – Capitalists@Work
Obama Isn’t Even as Good as Carter – Washington Examiner
LBC Must Show Ken the Door – Dizzy
A Moment of Unity – Crick
Leadership Hand Signals – FT
Lord Mandelson Still Paid £8,600 a Month by EU – Telegraph
Those Leadership Odds in Full – Mr Eugenides
Knocking on Betjeman’s Door – David Allen Green
New FSA Regulations Will Increase Insider Trading – Capitalists@Work
Obama Isn’t Even as Good as Carter – Washington Examiner
LBC Must Show Ken the Door – Dizzy
A Moment of Unity – Crick
Leadership Hand Signals – FT
Labour Party Union Funding Scam Scrapped
Great news that the backhanded theft of millions of pounds of taxpayers money by the Labour Party, also known as the Union Modernisation Fund, has been scrapped. But it’s fine, no doubt Prezza will be electedTreasurer at Labour conference and with his track record he’s guaranteed to sort out the hole in Labour’s dire finances.
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The Tories Must Abolish the Union Modernisation Fund
Iain Dale 2:39 PM
Since the Union Modernisation Fund was established, UNITE has received nearly £4.5 million according to figures published in this morning's Guardian. This is £4.5 million of taxpayers' money, going straight into Union coffers. And then out again direct into Labour Party coffers.
In any other sector this would be known as laundering. Oh no, UNITE, will no doubt bleat. There is no link between the two things. Of course not. Never let it be said. What do they think we are? Idiots?
This is why trade unions give money to Labour. They expect something in return, and the Union Modernisation Fund is one of those things.
If trade unions wish to "modernise", why is it that they don't just do it, and pay for it themselves without fleecing the taxpaper?
Everyone in politics knows the UMF is a vile little quid pro quo - you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours - between Labour and the Unions. I have no doubt that if the UMF had not existed, UNITE's donations to Labour would have been £4.5 million lighter.
This scandalous fund should be abolished within months of the Conservatives coming to office.
I understand that DfID also gives shedloads of money to the Unions. I wonder if other departments do too. All information gratefully received.
PS I have blogged on this before, HERE.
In any other sector this would be known as laundering. Oh no, UNITE, will no doubt bleat. There is no link between the two things. Of course not. Never let it be said. What do they think we are? Idiots?
This is why trade unions give money to Labour. They expect something in return, and the Union Modernisation Fund is one of those things.
If trade unions wish to "modernise", why is it that they don't just do it, and pay for it themselves without fleecing the taxpaper?
Everyone in politics knows the UMF is a vile little quid pro quo - you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours - between Labour and the Unions. I have no doubt that if the UMF had not existed, UNITE's donations to Labour would have been £4.5 million lighter.
This scandalous fund should be abolished within months of the Conservatives coming to office.
I understand that DfID also gives shedloads of money to the Unions. I wonder if other departments do too. All information gratefully received.
PS I have blogged on this before, HERE.
Labour Gives More Taxpayers' Money to the Unions
Iain Dale 12:00 PM
Outrageous. THIS is the way Labour is funding its election war chest. It uses taxpayers' money to give to the Unions to "modernise" through the Union modernisation fund. And then the unions give it back to the Labour Party in the form of donations. In other areas it would be called a kind of protection racket.
I presume this sort of thing will be among the first to be banned by a Conservative government. If the unions want to modernise they can pay for it themselves.
Trade unions’ efforts to support vulnerable workers were given a boost today as Lord Young announced Government funding for fourteen new projects at the TUC Annual Congress.
A total of £2.46 million will be made available to help unions improve their ability to meet the needs of hard-to-reach groups of vulnerable workers. It will be matched with at least an equivalent union contribution.
The money will be distributed under Round Three of the Union Modernisation Fund which provides financial assistance to trade unions and their federations for innovative projects with the potential to transform their effectiveness. Bids are assessed by an independent Supervisory Board comprising individuals from union, academic and industry backgrounds.
I presume this sort of thing will be among the first to be banned by a Conservative government. If the unions want to modernise they can pay for it themselves.
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