The straight answer is that I am not quite sure, but I certainly agree with my hon. Friend's general point, which is that we are talking about a highly regulated, transparent framework. If I was looking for an example, I would look to Australia, but I do not know enough about the situation there, although obviously the trade unions are involved with the Labour party there; no doubt they learned that from us. The point that I want to make is that although there are other affiliated organisations, such as the Co-operative party and the Socialist Environment and Resources Association, the main organisations affiliated to the Labour party are the trade unions. They are the large ones, the ones that have played a major role in the creation of the Labour party. I am very happy with that and I support it. It is fully democratic. You have to be a Labour party member of a trade union, obviously, to participate in our annual conferences. The examples that the right hon. Member for Horsham gave were errors. If it is true that a Liberal MP had some sort of communication sent to him because he was thought to be a member of the Labour party, that must have been an error.
Political Parties and Elections Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Gavin Strang
(Labour)
in the House of Commons on Monday, 20 October 2008.
It occurred during Debate on bills on Political Parties and Elections Bill.
About this proceeding contribution
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2007-08Chamber / Committee
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