General union keeps cash for loyal MPs

The UK's fourth largest union, the GMB general union, last month rejected the Labour Party's request for a £744,000 contribution to its election war chest.

The union's central executive committee (CEC) voted not to give the party extra funds centrally, but instead to fund Labour MPs who "share the GMB's aims and values". The union will continue to hand over its normal affiliation fee.

The union is to draw up a list of MPs who meet this criterion and the CEC political committee will consider "how best to help and return these MPs on a case-by-case basis".

The GMB added that this support could be extended to any Labour MP who shares the union's aims and values, not just those who are members of the 130-strong GMB group.

GMB general secretary Kevin Curran said: "GMB members want to work to deliver a third term Labour government - but only one that is elected on a radical manifesto that will deliver social justice."

He said the union would be "evaluating very carefully" what came out of July's National Policy Forum and the party conference at the end of September.

* A new Labour Representation Committee - of trade unionists and Labour MPs who want to promote socialist policies - was formed last month. Those involved include Mick Rix, the former leader of the ASLEF rail union, and Billy Hayes of the CWU communications union.