Unite remains Labour’s biggest donor

The trade union Unite remained Labour’s largest donor in the third quarter of 2013, despite its public spat with the party leadership over the selection of an election candidate in Falkirk.

By The Newsroom

Published 14th Nov 2013, 00:01 BST

Electoral Commission figures show that Unite gave Labour £777,740 between July and September, almost a quarter of the party’s total donations of £3,157,761, according to official figures. Conservatives received the most donations in the three-month period, with a total of £3,275,185, while Liberal Democrats took in £798,408.

Labour launched an internal inquiry in July into allegations that Unite had tried to fix the Falkirk selection for its favoured candidate, but the investigation was closed in September after finding no evidence that rules were breached.

Leader Ed Miliband is pressing ahead with plans to reform his party’s financial links with the unions, so that affiliation fees are paid only in relation to members who choose to support the party.

He will seek approval for the new arrangements at a special conference in the spring.