Member

The noble Lord, Lord Burns, reminded us in Committee that one of the drivers of this change, and why we could not have this amendment, was the decline in funds. In fact, one noble Lord stood up and said that since this had come in, their political funds had gone down. I made an important point in asking whose fault it was. Surely it is the trade union leaders’ fault for not inspiring their members to sign up. It is important not to forget that the trade union leaders who are represented on the opposite Benches, and other trade union leaders, have an obligation to their members and are accountable to them. This is an amendment that retains control in rank and file members’ hands.