Labour and the Unite union

Despite Gordon Brown's very public outcry against the Unite union and the forthcoming British Airways strike activity, many journalists are now picking up on the very close relationship between Unite and the Labour government. Former Labour Party spin Doctor Charlie Whelan is at the head of the Unite union and many believe today's public relations stunt by Gordon Brown was exactly that, something to grab the headlines and give the impression the government is no longer working in tandem with the unions.

The truth is that the Unite union has backed various Labour party loans and is the chief bankroller of the Labour Party at present. Indeed when the Labour Party was on the verge of financial collapse just a few years ago it was the Unite union which stepped in and took control of party finances. As a consequence, despite various political outcries regarding the forthcoming British Airways strike, the Unite union and the Labour Party are closer than ever before and likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future.

When you consider there are 59 up-and-coming new Labour candidates from the Unite members list, which will complement the 111 Unite group members currently active Labour MPs, these are perhaps the two figures which reflect the close relationship between the two parties.