Member

In my final sentence, I will take your Lordships back 100 years, to the papal encyclical Rerum Novarum, which is the fundamental basis of Christian democracy and Christian democrat trade unionism in Europe, where I was for almost 50 years. I see the noble Lord, Lord Monks, in his place there. He was secretary general of the ETUC, and is well aware of the way in which continental trade unionism works. It is not perfect, but in many ways it is better than the bunfight that passes for dialogue in Britain.