New row over political links to trade union

Wednesday 17th March 2010, 7:59PM GMT.

David Wright MP top A political row erupted today over Labour MPs’ links with Britain’s biggest trade union Unite – including Shropshire MP David Wright. The Conservatives have published a dossier.

They say it shows that scores of Labour ministers, MPs and candidates, including Gordon Brown, have received thousands of pounds of financial support from the union, or are themselves members.

This includes Mr Wright, whose Telford constituency is listed as one of those being bankrolled by the union.

They accused Labour of being “in hock” to Unite, which has donated more than £11 million since 2007.

More than £460,000 of Unite’s money has gone directly to more than 148 constituency Labour parties, according to the Tory report.

Labour accused the Conservatives of being desperate to distract attention from controversy over the multi-million pound donations of Lord Ashcroft.

Mr Wright said: “I am a member of Unite and Telford Labour Party has a constituency agreement with them. Telford Labour Party receives £2,000 a year and this is fully declared in our accounts. We are very proud of our links to the trade unions which are democratic organisations.”

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