Union to 'fund Labour MPs directly'
Leaders of one of the Britain’s biggest trade unions today decided to switch financial support directly to Labour MPs, costing the party £750,000 (€1.1m).
The GMB said it will stop giving Labour money centrally to spend on elections and campaigns.
The funding will instead go to MPs and candidates who support the union’s policies.
The move was agreed almost unanimously by a meeting of the executive of the GMB, the fourth biggest union in the country.
The move deals another huge blow to Labour's links with unions following last month's decision by the Fire Brigades Union to disaffiliate from the party.
The Rail Maritime and Transport Union was thrown out of Labour earlier this year after deciding to support other political parties.
The GMB decision reflects widespread disillusion among rank and file union members with the policies of the Labour Party and the leadership of Tony Blair.
Leading unions are at odds with the Government on a number of issues, including foundation hospitals, the private finance initiative, pensions, employment rights and the so-called two-tier workforce in the NHS.
