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Labour's union membership reforms approved Labour approves union membership reforms
(35 minutes later)
Proposals to change the link between Labour and the unions have been approved at a special conference of party members. Proposals to change the link between Labour and the unions have been approved at a conference of party members by an overwhelming majority.
It comes after leader Ed Miliband urged an end to the automatic affiliation of union members and the introduction of a "one member, one vote" system for leadership elections.It comes after leader Ed Miliband urged an end to the automatic affiliation of union members and the introduction of a "one member, one vote" system for leadership elections.
Party members backed the changes by 86.29% in favour.Party members backed the changes by 86.29% in favour.
Unite boss Len McCluskey said union members would "rise to the challenge".Unite boss Len McCluskey said union members would "rise to the challenge".
But he also fired a broadside at Mr Miliband, who called the police in to investigate the alleged rigging of a Labour candidate selection by Unite in Falkirk, which sparked the reforms that have been debated today.But he also fired a broadside at Mr Miliband, who called the police in to investigate the alleged rigging of a Labour candidate selection by Unite in Falkirk, which sparked the reforms that have been debated today.
Mr McCluskey said the police should never have been called in and repeated his assertion that "my union has done nothing wrong" - other than what it was supposed to be doing, "encouraging our members to join the Labour Party". He repeated his assertion that "my union has done nothing wrong" and declared to loud cheers: "This is our party and we are going nowhere!"
To loud cheers from the crowd, he declared: "This is our party and we are going nowhere!" Addressing the conference after the vote, Mr Miliband said members should be proud that the party had demonstrated it had the "courage to change".
Addressing the conference after the vote, Mr Miliband said members had demonstrated they had the "courage to change". He said he had taken a "big risk" in proposing the reforms in July, stressing: "I did not believe we could face up to the challenges the country faced if we didn't face up to the challenges faced by our party."
Many members had recently felt the Labour Party had lost touch, he said, adding: "You were right." Many British people had recently felt the Labour Party had lost touch, he said, adding: "You were right."
But he said the changes would ensure the party "never loses touch again with the British people". He later tweeted: "The reason we have changed our party today is so that we never lose touch again. #OneNationPolitics"
The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said it was interesting that opposition to the reforms had come from ordinary party members rather than trade unionists - perhaps underlining concern about how the changes would affect their own votes.
'Mass movement''Mass movement'
Earlier, Mr Miliband said the plans would not just change Labour, but transform British politics. Earlier, Mr Miliband received a standing ovation from union members, constituency MPs and members of local parties from around the country at London's ExCel centre, as he told them to "seize" the chance to change Labour.
He received a standing ovation from union members, constituency MPs and members of local parties from around the country at London's ExCel centre, as he told them to "seize" the chance to change Labour. He also said the changes would attract thousands of new supporters to the party.
Mr Miliband said the changes would attract thousands of new supporters to the party. Historically, millions of union members have been automatically affiliated with Labour, but few take part in campaigning activities or even vote in general elections.
Under the current system, millions of union members are automatically affiliated with Labour, but few take part in campaigning activities or even vote in general elections, Mr Miliband said. By being allowed to actively opt in to be a supporter, for a £3 fee, Mr Miliband has argued that Labour would be transformed into a genuine "mass movement" again - in contrast to the Conservatives.
By being allowed to actively opt in to be a supporter, for a £3 fee, Mr Miliband said Labour would be transformed into a genuine "mass movement" again - in contrast to the Conservatives.
Labour leadership elections have been 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.Labour leadership elections have been 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 won the last leadership election largely thanks to support from unions, but Unite boss 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 Unite boss 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.
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.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 Mr Miliband told the conference that a "one-member, one-vote" system would breathe new life into the party and complete a process started by former leader John Smith more than 30 years ago.But Mr Miliband told the conference that a "one-member, one-vote" system would breathe new life into the party and complete a process started by former leader John Smith more than 30 years ago.
'Party of equality'
Addressing Labour activists, the party leader pointed out that in leadership elections, an MP's vote was worth 1,000 times more than each party member's.
"Let's make ourselves the party of equality. Not just in the policies we propose. But in the politics we practice," he said.
Mr Miliband said not everyone wanted to be a member of a political party and that people should not have to pay £45 to have a voice in Labour.
He added: "I don't want to break the link with working people. I want to hear the voices of working people louder than ever before."
Mr Miliband's proposals have already led to the GMB union reducing its affiliation funding. Unite is to discuss its funding arrangements next week.Mr Miliband's proposals have already led to the GMB union reducing its affiliation funding. Unite is to discuss its funding arrangements next week.
GMB leader Paul Kenny and Unison's Dave Prentis said the changes were long overdue and the party needed to get them out of the way to focus on winning the next election.GMB leader Paul Kenny and Unison's Dave Prentis said the changes were long overdue and the party needed to get them out of the way to focus on winning the next election.
But some delegates have warned about diluting Labour's links with the unions.But some delegates have warned about diluting Labour's links with the unions.
One local party member - a retired postal worker - said the changes were being foisted on the party to appease the right wing media and the Conservatives.One local party member - a retired postal worker - said the changes were being foisted on the party to appease the right wing media and the Conservatives.
'Long overdue''Long overdue'
But, 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. Labour ministers, the party's ruling National Executive Committee and the big trade unions had already expressed support for the changes.
Former prime minister Tony Blair is among those supporting the proposed reforms. And former prime minister Tony Blair said Mr Miliband had shown "real courage" on the issue, which was "long overdue".
He said Mr Miliband had shown "real courage" on the issue, which was "long overdue" and a reform he should have made himself.
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.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."