Oh what a mess!

[Workingman]

Following Red Ed's decision to make union members opt in to support Labour the GMB has decided to cut its funds from £1.2m to just £150,000. The cut is based on the union's estimate of how many members would opt in. Other big unions might now follow suite leaving a big hole in Labour's campaign funds for the next election potentially making it unable to do much more than fight a rearguard action.

On the one hand I am pleased the unions are giving Labour a kicking, it is long overdue, but it gives us all a pretty big problem.

There is not much enthusiasm in the electorate to vote for the Tories, regardless of how the economy is doing. The LibDems have been relegated to fourth place. UKIP are on the up and the UK is about to break up.

The next election could see the lowest turn out ever recorded as people turn their backs on politicians and politics. If that happens no party, no matter how many seats it wins, will have a mandate from the people to rule. This already happens with turn outs of around 65-70%, but is considered "acceptable", imagine the disenchantment if the turnout is sub 50%.

Democracy could be in for a rough ride.

[Suff]

Democracy could be in for a rough ride.

I have long said that democracy is in the hands of the voters. If they choose not to vote or to spoil their ballot paper, then they demean and degrade the democracy they get.

Democracy is something you have to Want. You have to Vote for it and you have to tend it. Leave it alone to stand on it's own and it will wither on the vine and what replaces it will be dictatorship.

Voters get out of the system what they put into it. No thought, no consideration, no vote: no democracy. Or some horrible parody of democracy....

I do not blame the politicians at all. When a dog lifts it's leg and marks a lamppost, it is not committing vandalism, it is just being a dog....

[Workingman]

Well now. On the back of the selection scandal in Falkirk Red Ed rushed in the new rules for union members' affiliation to the Labour party, costing the party a fortune.

Now that an investigation has been completed it has found that no rules were broken and two union officials have been reinstated - one was the union candidate. However, the result of the investigation will not be published. Would it show that NEC imposing a candidate from HQ is also considered as rigging the selection? I think it might.

So, Ed's pro-active meddling could prove to be a disaster, and not just for Labour.

[cruiser2]

I understand the prospective candidate has stood down. Be interesting to see who is now selected. Would they consider a retired silver surfer from England? Could do with some spare cash for attending Parliament on a couple of days a week.

[cromwell]

Now that an investigation has been completed it has found that no rules were broken and two union officials have been reinstated - one was the union candidate. However, the result of the investigation will not be published. Would it show that NEC imposing a candidate from HQ is also considered as rigging the selection? I think it might.

Yes; I had to laugh when the Labour party accused a union of 'rigging' the selection process - the London Labour party have been doing just that for years!

[KateLMead]

Harriet Harman is on I believe tonight speaking in support of the Unions.. She would wouldn't? she her old man influential in the Unions is now an MP!!