Labour has been warned it looks like a “disunited” party because of the row over its links with unions, as fresh funding cuts were revealed.
The GMB has decided to reduce its funds by more than £1 million after leader Ed Miliband said he wanted to change the way union members are affiliated.
Under his plans, union members would have to opt in rather than being automatically affiliated to Labour.
Other unions, including Labour’s biggest affiliate, Unite, have held back from following suit, offering a breathing space to Mr Miliband, who makes a crucial speech to the TUC Congress in Bournemouth tomorrow.
Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, warned people would not vote for a party which was “squabbling”. He said the number of members Unison affiliates to Labour, in a system similar to the one championed by Mr Miliband, is to fall from 500,000 to 430,000, costing Labour £210,000.
He told a press conference in Bournemouth: “We look like a disunited party. Where I grew up, in Leeds, we were told never to wash your dirty linen in public.”
Mr Prentis said Labour had lost the election in Australia because of internal squabbles, adding: “It will happen to the Labour Party in this country if it does not get its act together.”
Mr Prentis said any malaise in British politics could be blamed on politicians following controversy over issues such as MPs’ expenses and the Iraq war.
Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, said Mr Miliband had a challenge ahead of him to convince working people that Labour still had their interests at heart.
He rubbished suggestions that Unite had influenced the outcome of an internal investigation by Labour into claims the union rigged the selection of a party candidate in Falkirk.
Mr McCluskey said Unite wanted to move on from the controversy and concentrate on policies.
A senior Labour source said no-one should be claiming vindication from the Falkirk episode, adding: “The Unite-backed candidate in Falkirk has stood down. The Union Join scheme has ended. We now need to move on and press ahead with reforms to mend the link between Labour and the unions so it is fit for the 21st Century.”
The head of the TUC urged Labour and the unions to “shake hands and move on” from their row over affiliation.
General secretary Frances O’Grady said both sides should concentrate on issues such as low pay, zero hours contracts and jobs.
Ms O’Grady said she did not believe anyone wanted to break the historic link, which has come under strain over the row over the selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk.
Billy Hayes, leader of the Communication Workers Union, said Mr Miliband’s reforms were “ill thought out.”
He said his main worry was the prospect of moving to state funding of political parties, which he believed would be unpopular with the public.