Union members choose whether to join a union, whether that will be a LP affiliated one, and whether they pay levies or have political funds. Lots of people putting in 10p a week.

Funding is largely to finance extra requirements and capacity building for modern industrial relations practice. I think that is fair enough and most bosses would agree.

The other side of the social partnership - the employers and the CBI for example - are entitled to apply for vast rafts of government funding. Particularly as …

Some of it for rather similar capacity building activities to the funds for the unions. If they’re private why don’t they pay for their own training? That’s your argument. Now answer it.

Of course there are parts of the country where Tory Associations are collecting plenty of support from businesses, individuals who are not members, and social club members who double up.

I’m not sure what your point is really.

If your local associations cannot raise funds very well compared to others that is not something to shout about really.