state of relations between at the grass-roots level it is far from satisfactor he problem is not the number of union branches number of delegates sent by Active those branches to the party general management combeen decline in the influence unions at local level and insufficient political dialogue their between rank-and-file party Two reasons for this situation may be identified. First, the the case, lack of influence of the Labour Party over national and often perceived b cessful the growth in the activists. of the has been pronounced feature of recent Labour goverments and, until Thatcher, under the Tories.
working accountable trade union leaders tatives, obviously feel that with this high level of national contact and influence the need to be deeply involved within the Labour Party Activity in the affairs of local everyday parties is thus too often seen by workplace the unions at both national and local level as at best irrelevant and at worst a waste of valuable the Labour Party should the drift continue If Labour is to develop as a mass party it must be based on the unions, and yet an increasing percentage of trade unionists re parties than In addition the party needs to massive parliamentary support if it is about socialist change, which in turn requires a high level of political awareness In this latter respect the party