Should union political funds be donated to parties in proportion to members’ stated voting intentions?
UK trade unions with political funds must ballot members to establish them and allow opt-outs from contributions. Recent legislation effective 2026 automatically opts new members in unless they opt out. Unions have historically directed the vast majority of donations to Labour, which received millions in 2024-2026. Polls in 2026 show union member support now split, with Labour and Reform UK both at around 28% and Greens at 12%, amid declining Labour support since 2024.
51 Opinions
No. Better solution: join a union that actually represents your interests and values, and leave one that doesn't. Union members shouldn't be treated as captive political donors. If, for example, you want a union focused on your profession, pay and conditions rather than campaigning on Palestine or other unrelated political causes, give the PCS or any other union doing so a swerve. Members should control where their money and representation go.
No. We gotta evolve this archaic system of lobbying. An elected officials job is TO GO OUT to the population - man, woman, child, union rep, educator, Bob the Builder, window cleaner, fund manager, noodle eater, road sweeper, train user, pilot, rich, poor, fearful, health worker, Noddy!, the kebab van man, firefighter et all & use their brains to see where there is need & bring it to their peers w/o fear or favour - for solutions or improvements. It's the 21st Century!
Labour was born from the trade union movement. Small percentage of members money is donated to the Labour Party. It’s mostly used , no matter what colour government is in power, to lobby Government working with companies to win contracts, growing jobs and protecting jobs for the membership across regions within the UK.
If donations reflect where voters plan to vote surely that's how money should be donated.
I don't think its right considering some members may vote otherwise to the party being donated to.
That will cost a tidy sum to arrange. Ha!
Unions pool funds to buy collective political leverage over employment law. Diluting that cash across competing parties destroys their influence in Westminster. If members hate Labour's direction, freeze the fund entirely or opt out. But forcing unions to finance their own political executioners in the name of 'proportionality' is a bit brain dead
Even better, Unions shouldn't fund any political parties and allow members to opt in or out in their own personal lives
Unions should be bi-partisan. Either don't donate or spread donations proportionately, be a true representation of the members.
Aside from the fact that political parties are responsible for conflicts of interest and should be banned, the next best thing would be to spread funds around according to voters wishes