Labour Party Follow

It’s possible that the David Abrahams funding scandal will come to be seen as an important stage in the long, slow death of the Labour Party.

While scandals about rich businessmen’s relationships to the Labour Party unravel, it has been trade unions that have come in for attack in sections of the media.

Gordon Brown’s fundraiser, Jon Mendelsohn, sits in the centre of the crisis over donations to the Labour party.

Across the north east of England people are asking questions about property developments and the role of the Labour Party.

The situation for New Labour is even worse in Scotland. The party’s new leader Wendy Alexander has broken laws introduced by the Labour government banning the receipt of proxy donations and donations by non-British residents.

On Tuesday Peter Hain admitted to a set of donations which should have been declared previously. They arise from a fundraising dinner in April organised by Huw Roberts who became Royal Mail’s director of Welsh affairs in June.

The shady funding of the Labour Party by rich business bosses was thrown into the spotlight this week.

Longstanding Surrey councillor and postal worker Peter Longhurst this week resigned from the Labour Party after more than two decades of membership.

This is a government which touts for cash from big business – and a government which acts on behalf of big business.

Last month Gordon Brown became the nearly man.

Why do trade union leaders echo widespread anger at the Labour government, yet also seem determined to support a Labour Party that is hell-bent on attacking working people?