Original message at https://twitter.com/#!/nickgriffinmep/status/100135489859895296
Monday, 8 August 2011
Sunday, 7 August 2011
If Trade union votes are being looked at so should the MP/MEP block
The Guardian reported recently that Ed Miliband is looking at changing the rules to reduce the influence of trade unions at conference and in the leadership election.
I am not going to argue that the place of unions within the party shouldn't be looked at, but they should be revised alongside all other power bases and groupings within the party.
Many argue that if it wasn't for the trade unions Ed Miliband would not have won the leadership election. This is true under the current leadership rules, but it is also true that because MPs and MEPs hold a third of the vote and their votes boosted David Miliband's vote. If the perceived unfairnesses are to be addressed it should be to bring in a genuine one member one vote system where every members vote has the same weighting on the basis of being a member of the Labour Party, and that member should only have one vote, not up to 5 based on how many other groupings that person belongs to such as The Fabians, The Co-Operative Party etc. Only then can we say we have a truly democratic means of electing the leader.
I am not going to argue that the place of unions within the party shouldn't be looked at, but they should be revised alongside all other power bases and groupings within the party.
Many argue that if it wasn't for the trade unions Ed Miliband would not have won the leadership election. This is true under the current leadership rules, but it is also true that because MPs and MEPs hold a third of the vote and their votes boosted David Miliband's vote. If the perceived unfairnesses are to be addressed it should be to bring in a genuine one member one vote system where every members vote has the same weighting on the basis of being a member of the Labour Party, and that member should only have one vote, not up to 5 based on how many other groupings that person belongs to such as The Fabians, The Co-Operative Party etc. Only then can we say we have a truly democratic means of electing the leader.
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