This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/02/harriet-harman-far-left-exploit-union-party-reforms-leader-elected
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Harman dismisses fears far-left could exploit changes to party leader elections | Harman dismisses fears far-left could exploit changes to party leader elections |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Harriet Harman has dismissed concerns that far-left militants could sign up thousands of new members to vote in Labour leadership elections under plans to reform the party's links with the union. | |
| The Labour deputy leader hit out at critics who say militant groups such as the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) could exploit the changes, accusing those voicing concern of being phobic about the influence of the unions on the party. | |
| Under the reform plan, the electoral college system for leadership elections – which gives a third of the votes each to the unions, rank and file party members, and MPs and MEPs – would be replaced by a one member, one vote system. | Under the reform plan, the electoral college system for leadership elections – which gives a third of the votes each to the unions, rank and file party members, and MPs and MEPs – would be replaced by a one member, one vote system. |
| Individual trade unionists would no longer be automatically affiliated via the payment of the political levy to the party by their union. Instead they will be able to take part in elections if they choose to join a new category of affiliated members for a £3 fee. | Individual trade unionists would no longer be automatically affiliated via the payment of the political levy to the party by their union. Instead they will be able to take part in elections if they choose to join a new category of affiliated members for a £3 fee. |
| Critics of the plan fear that if just one in 10 of the 2.7 million union members who are eligible were to sign up, they would outnumber the existing rank and file membership of 200,000. | Critics of the plan fear that if just one in 10 of the 2.7 million union members who are eligible were to sign up, they would outnumber the existing rank and file membership of 200,000. |
| But Harman said concerns that groups such as the SWP could take advantage of the change to sign up large numbers of new members to the party were misplaced. | |
| "I know people are asking that question. I think it combines being slightly phobic about trade unions and also patronising," she told BBC1's the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. | "I know people are asking that question. I think it combines being slightly phobic about trade unions and also patronising," she told BBC1's the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. |
| "This is about ordinary people at work who will make up their own minds as to who they want to have as a leader. It will be good for us for them to be engaged in the party at local level." | "This is about ordinary people at work who will make up their own minds as to who they want to have as a leader. It will be good for us for them to be engaged in the party at local level." |
| She said the potential injection of an extra 270,000 union members would be a good thing for Labour, helping to reinvigorate its campaigning base. | She said the potential injection of an extra 270,000 union members would be a good thing for Labour, helping to reinvigorate its campaigning base. |
| "It would be 270,000 people in the workplace actually involved in the life of the Labour party at local level. That would be a good thing for politics and a good thing for the Labour party," she said. | "It would be 270,000 people in the workplace actually involved in the life of the Labour party at local level. That would be a good thing for politics and a good thing for the Labour party," she said. |
| "Alongside Labour party members they would be able to vote in the leadership election. [And] why shouldn't they? If you support the party, you pay your money, why shouldn't you have a say in the vote for the leadership? I think it is a good thing. | |
| "This will reinvigorate the party at local level. I think it will breathe fresh life into the Labour party. A lot of people feel that politics is out of touch and people in parties don't understand their lives. | "This will reinvigorate the party at local level. I think it will breathe fresh life into the Labour party. A lot of people feel that politics is out of touch and people in parties don't understand their lives. |
| "To have a strong local connection between people who are working and living locally together with the Labour party, that's what politics and our democracy needs in this country." | "To have a strong local connection between people who are working and living locally together with the Labour party, that's what politics and our democracy needs in this country." |
| Details of the plans, unveiled at the weekend by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, are being sent to members of the party's ruling national executive before a special conference in London on 1 March, when it will be decided whether they should be adopted. | |
| The reforms were drawn up following the selection procession of a Labour candidate in Falkirk, where the Unite union was accused of signing up members in the constituency in order to influence the outcome. | The reforms were drawn up following the selection procession of a Labour candidate in Falkirk, where the Unite union was accused of signing up members in the constituency in order to influence the outcome. |
Previous version
1
Next version