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Labour set to vote on Ed Miliband's membership reforms Labour set to vote on Ed Miliband's membership reforms
(about 1 hour later)
Ed Miliband's plans to reform historic links with the unions are expected to be endorsed by the Labour Party, at a special conference in London.Ed Miliband's plans to reform historic links with the unions are expected to be endorsed by the Labour Party, at a special conference in London.
Party members will vote on ending the automatic affiliation of trade union members and introducing "one member, one vote" in leadership elections.Party members will vote on ending the automatic affiliation of trade union members and introducing "one member, one vote" in leadership elections.
Ed Miliband says the change, with union members able to opt-in to join the party, will transform politics.Ed Miliband says the change, with union members able to opt-in to join the party, will transform politics.
Unite boss Len McCluskey said the union now has "difficult choices" to make.Unite boss Len McCluskey said the union now has "difficult choices" to make.
The union was at the heart of controversy surrounding the selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk last year, which prompted Mr Miliband to propose the changes.The union was at the heart of controversy surrounding the selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk last year, which prompted Mr Miliband to propose the changes.
Mr Miliband won the last leadership election largely thanks to support from unions but Mr McCluskey said he suspected only 10% of its one million members affiliated to Labour would opt to stay in if they were asked now.Mr Miliband won the last leadership election largely thanks to support from unions but Mr McCluskey said he suspected only 10% of its one million members affiliated to Labour would opt to stay in if they were asked now.
An estimated 400,000 Unite members do not vote Labour - a situation Mr McCluskey said was untenable.An estimated 400,000 Unite members do not vote Labour - a situation Mr McCluskey said was untenable.
He said: "We want to get more of our members engaged with Labour at grassroots level. We see this as an opportunity and a challenge to actively talk to our members and try to persuade them to give a commitment to Labour."He said: "We want to get more of our members engaged with Labour at grassroots level. We see this as an opportunity and a challenge to actively talk to our members and try to persuade them to give a commitment to Labour."
Union members who "opt-in" to join the party will be asked to pay a £3 fee.Union members who "opt-in" to join the party will be asked to pay a £3 fee.
The BBC's Brian Wheeler, who is at the conference, says the mood in the queues for voting cards has been so far upbeat.
Members from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which is not affiliated with Labour, have been holding a demonstration against the changes outside the centre.
"But inside the hall, the feeling is these changes are long overdue and they are there merely to 'rubber stamp' them," our reporter says.
At the moment, Labour leadership elections are decided by a complex electoral college system, with equal weight given to the votes of three groups - one third to MPs and MEPs, one third to ordinary party members and one third to trade unionists.At the moment, Labour leadership elections are decided by a complex electoral college system, with equal weight given to the votes of three groups - one third to MPs and MEPs, one third to ordinary party members and one third to trade unionists.
Mr Miliband wants a "one-member, one-vote" system - something Labour leaders since John Smith in the early 1990s have tried and failed to bring about.Mr Miliband wants a "one-member, one-vote" system - something Labour leaders since John Smith in the early 1990s have tried and failed to bring about.
Mr Miliband's proposals have already led to the GMB union reducing its affiliation funding. Unite, Labour's biggest backer, is to discuss its funding arrangements next week.Mr Miliband's proposals have already led to the GMB union reducing its affiliation funding. Unite, Labour's biggest backer, is to discuss its funding arrangements next week.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is among those supporting the proposed reforms, saying: "Ed has shown real courage and leadership on this issue. It is a long overdue reform that as I said before, was something I should have done myself.Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is among those supporting the proposed reforms, saying: "Ed has shown real courage and leadership on this issue. It is a long overdue reform that as I said before, was something I should have done myself.
"It puts individual people in touch with the party and is a great way of showing how Labour can reconnect with the people of Britain.""It puts individual people in touch with the party and is a great way of showing how Labour can reconnect with the people of Britain."
Representatives of local Labour parties from across the UK are travelling to the ExCel centre to listen to Mr Miliband's speech and debate the proposed changes. Representatives of local Labour parties from across the UK are descending upon the ExCel centre in London's Docklands to listen to Mr Miliband's speech and debate the proposed changes.
With Labour ministers, the party's ruling National Executive Committee and the big trade unions already signed up to them, the Labour leader is expected to win the vote. With Labour ministers, the party's ruling National Executive Committee and the big trade unions already signed up to them, Mr Miliband is expected to win the vote.
Mr Miliband will tell Labour activists: "Today, we won't just be voting to open our doors. We'll be voting for the biggest transfer of power in the history of our party to our members and supporters. The party leader will tell Labour activists: "Today, we won't just be voting to open our doors. We'll be voting for the biggest transfer of power in the history of our party to our members and supporters.
"Today if you vote for these reforms you will be voting for Labour to be a movement again. Arguing our case house by house, village by village, town by town. But movements are only as strong as the people within them. The depth, the diversity, the reach of a movement is the true measure of its strength and its ability to make change."Today if you vote for these reforms you will be voting for Labour to be a movement again. Arguing our case house by house, village by village, town by town. But movements are only as strong as the people within them. The depth, the diversity, the reach of a movement is the true measure of its strength and its ability to make change.
"That's why we have to change, that's why we have to bring people in.""That's why we have to change, that's why we have to bring people in."
He will claim the changes present a once-in-a-generation chance to breathe new life into Britain's failing political system.He will claim the changes present a once-in-a-generation chance to breathe new life into Britain's failing political system.
Mr Miliband has argued that if even a fraction of union members sign up to be affiliated supporters it could more than double the number of activists the party can draw on and open politics up to a wider cross-section of people.Mr Miliband has argued that if even a fraction of union members sign up to be affiliated supporters it could more than double the number of activists the party can draw on and open politics up to a wider cross-section of people.
But Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps dismissed the proposals as a "white flag" to union bosses, that allows them to tighten their "stranglehold" of the party.But Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps dismissed the proposals as a "white flag" to union bosses, that allows them to tighten their "stranglehold" of the party.
"It's the same old Labour - union bosses still pick the leader, buy the policies and rig the selections," Mr Shapps said."It's the same old Labour - union bosses still pick the leader, buy the policies and rig the selections," Mr Shapps said.
"Ed Miliband has shown he is too weak to stand up to the union bosses, and too weak to stand up for hardworking people.""Ed Miliband has shown he is too weak to stand up to the union bosses, and too weak to stand up for hardworking people."
Meanwhile, John Smith's widow, Baroness Elizabeth Smith, writing in the Guardian, said her husband would have backed Mr Miliband's plan for one member, one vote.Meanwhile, John Smith's widow, Baroness Elizabeth Smith, writing in the Guardian, said her husband would have backed Mr Miliband's plan for one member, one vote.
She said: "Of course, Ed Miliband is a different leader than John, working in different times. But he has much in common with my husband.She said: "Of course, Ed Miliband is a different leader than John, working in different times. But he has much in common with my husband.
"He has an understated style but is a leader of high principle, with a passionate belief in social justice. He has a capacity to bring people together and a determination to change our party so that we can change Britain.""He has an understated style but is a leader of high principle, with a passionate belief in social justice. He has a capacity to bring people together and a determination to change our party so that we can change Britain."