Top news today: EU referendum, Labour Party funding, civil service
Author: Zoe Stavri
Published on Oct 02, 2012
In the news today, Labour appears to be considering an EU referendum, research by Unlock Democracy reveals a lack of transparency among trade unions funding Labour and a threat from Francis Maude to the civil service.
LABOUR TOYS WITH BACKING EU REFERENDUM- Rumblings from within the Labour Party suggest it is considering offering a referendum on whether Britain stays in the EU. Is this motivated by political point-scoring?
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3555019.ece
UNIONS FAIL TO INFORM MEMBERS THEY CAN OPT OUT OF LABOUR FUNDING- Research by Unlock Democracy reveals 14 out of 15 trade unions affiliated with Labour are not upfront about the relationship with Labour.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9580715/Unions-fail-to-inform-members-they-can-opt-out-of-Labour-funding.html
Read the full report by our deputy director Alexandra Runswick here: http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/-/publications/TradeUnionAffiliationFeesArticle.doc.pdf
MANDARINS FACE THE SACK IF THEY FAIL TO TOE THE LINE- Permanent secretaries who block implementation will face the sack, says Francis Maude. Is the role of the civil service to deliver policy, or do they also have a role in shaping policy?
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3555416.ece
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9580069/No-minister-Senior-civil-servants-deliberately-block-policy-says-Francis-Maude.html