Angry rail union scythes Labour funding
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Your support makes all the difference.Britain's biggest rail union today decided to cut funding to the Labour Party as a mark of protest over the Government's transport and employment policies. It will also switch financial support from a group of Labour MPs including the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
The move, agreed unanimously at the Rail Maritime and Transport Union's annual conference in Southport, means that funding will be cut from £112,000 to £20,000, a reduction of £92,000. It will reduce its affiliation level to the party from 56,000 to just 10,000 members.
The union will use the money it will save to campaign on policies including renationalisation of the railways.
The RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the decision meant that the union's delegation to the Labour Party annual conference and to policy forums will be cut. But he asked delegates to consider what was the use of giving Labour money if MPs did not support union campaigns.
He claimed there was no "will" from the Government to back RMT campaigns and said money would be better spent pursuing the union's own policies. The Government treated unions like a "concrete necklace" around its neck but was happy to accept huge donations from businessmen.
Mr Crow said the money which will now be saved will be spent on campaigning and the union will review its position in a year.
"They now have to deliver the goods. We are now five years into a New Labour administration who are not delivering on behalf of working people."
Mr Crow said the Government had "betrayed" workers by policies including the part privatisation of London Underground.
"This decision will be a shock to the Labour Party but it cannot accept our money week in week out unless it is prepared to do something for us."
Mick Skiggs, a delegate from Portsmouth, said the Government was more interested in dealing with big business.
"On the few occasions that Tony Blair actually visits this country all he can do is describe us as wreckers.
"He could not give a toss for the people who helped to get him elected in the first place."
Earlier the conference decided to switch financial support from a group of Labour MPs including Mr Prescott. Financial support will now be given to a new group of left wingers.
Some delegates wanted to disaffiliate completely from the Labour Party because of anger over government policies.
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