Miliband pledges help calm row with unions

Labour leader Ed Miliband addresses delegates at the TUC Conference in Bournemouth

He made a series of pledges over employment, education and transport at the TUC Congress which pleased union leaders, with one saying Mr Miliband was “beginning to seal the deal”.

But some at the Bournemouth conference criticised him for not going far enough on workers’ rights, while the simmering row over the links remained unresolved.

Mr Miliband insisted he was “absolutely determined” to drive through the controversial reforms, acknowledging that the changes – which would require union members to opt in to Labour affiliation as individuals rather than being automatically signed up by their unions – represented a “massive challenge”.

Unison leader Dave Prentis said the Conservatives would be “rubbing their hands with glee” because of the in-fighting.

The row will now switch to Labour’s annual conference in Brighton later this month.

Mr Miliband held talks with union leaders after his speech, with little sign of a consensus.

He told delegates that sticking with the current system was a “bigger risk”.

Unions have warned that the reforms could cost Labour millions of pounds a year in affiliation fees, and the GMB has already announced it will cut its payments by around £1.1m from January.

But Mr Miliband said the changes could boost party membership from 200,000 to 500,000 or more and make Labour a true “one nation party”.

“Some people ask: what’s wrong with the current system?” he said. “Let me tell them: we have three million working men and women affiliated to our party. But the vast majority play no role in our party. They are affiliated in name only.

“That wasn’t the vision of the founders of our party. I don’t think it’s your vision either. And it’s certainly not my vision.

“That’s why I want to make each and every affiliated trade union member a real part of their local party. Making a real choice to be a part of our party. So they can have a real voice in it.”

His made a number of pledges which pleased unions, including legislating on zero hours contracts, not building any new free schools, and keeping the East Coast rail line in public ownership.