Tory old timers haven’t changed union political fund rules

THE trade unions are more than a lobbying organisation. They are the only organisation in the UK that has its right to a political fund protected by law. No business organisation has that protection.

For exactly 100 years, since the Act of Parliament passed in 1913, trade unions have extracted millions of pounds in a political levy from all their members, which has immediately gone to fund the Labour Party, irrespective of the individual member’s political opinions.

Members can contract out? Yes, if you’ve got the bottle to face up to a union secretary, in committee, and ask for your money back.

No wonder the Labour Party is protesting. It looks as if David Cameron is going to shoot their cash-cow! Sadly, I wouldn’t hold your breath. Old-timers in the Tory party have been trying to do that for years, and we haven’t succeeded yet. It used to be “contract in” but a Labour government changed that, and no Tory government has even attempted to reverse it.

From: TW Coxon, West Auckland Road, Darlington.

IS there no end to the greed and deception of our elected Members of Parliament? The latest lobbying scandal indicates little or no concern by MPs – or most of them – and total contempt for the views of the people who elect them regarding their behaviour and morality, we, the electorate, expect of them.

Not being satisfied with the big salaries and good pensions they receive, they wish to spend their time seeking out lucrative deals to supplement their already overpaid employment.

Those found guilty of these transgressions should be sacked and pensions withdrawn. The people who elected them, I am sure, will agree. If they don’t, they deserve what they get! If that isn’t bad enough we now learn that the contagion has spread to the Upper House! The question was asked “where is the respect for the police?” (Yorkshire Post, June 1). The same question should be asked of the politicians in Westminster and elsewhere.

From: Max Nottingham, St Faith’s Street, Lincoln.

YEARS ago, I said the letters MP stood for money-making potential. Things don’t change.

Ordinary people on £26,000 a year, or £60 a week benefits, 
don’t understand why MPs 
on £66,000 a year need more money. Especially if a member 
of the family is pocketing 
£30,000 a year for secretarial duties.

Members of Parliament need to satisfy up to 70,000 constituents. That is a full-time job. Please no yelping clichés about the need to pull in extra dosh.

So long as they make their own rules, nothing will change. Make them clock-on five days a week like real workers do. Order, order.

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield, East Yorkshire.

THE more I have to listen to 
Ed Balls say what Labour 
must do when they get elected 
in 2015, the more I want to 
be ill.

We all know that if Little Red Ted is leader, the policy will be dictated by Len McCluskey’s Unite union.

Labour will say and do anything to persuade the workers to vote for them.

David Cameron is also on a 
path of no return. He has 
made more u-turns than a corkscrew.

I am sorry to say that after voting Tory for the last 60 years, I shall be giving my vote to Ukip next time.