Ed Miliband's leadership campaign may not have the money that his older brother David's does, but he is sure that the support of 4,500 volunteers has made up for it. Figures released by the Electoral Commission today show that Ed's fundraising last month overtook David's by nearly £21,500.
Ed Miliband’s leadership campaign may not have the money that his older brother David’s does, but he is sure that the support of 4,500 volunteers has made up for it. Figures released by the Electoral Commission today show that Ed’s fundraising last month overtook David’s by nearly £21,500.
Today’s ‘slur’ in the Sun, which describes various unions of trying to “buy” Miliband junior suggests that they are trying to pay for influence.
“Unite spent £200,000 on pro-Ed letters to 1.1million members. It also spent £20,000 on texts. Ed’s campaign got £28,000 from the GMB in July, and a £105,000 donation from Unite will be confirmed today.
“In return, they want Ed to boost their power if he ever gets to No10.”
In an email sent to members last night, Ed said:
“We still need your help in these final days if we are to make our strong campaign count, win this election and show that we can turn those values into action for the people we serve.”
So far, the campaign has raised a total of £328,000 with £133,000 donated by trade unions and £95,000 coming from small donations.
Other payments disclosed to the Electoral Commission show that David’s campaign, which is said to have raised over £450,000 since May, has taken a variety of donations, including from unions. Ed Balls has had £100,000 donated to him by author, Ken Follett, and an additional £23,000 from donors such as the Communication Workers Union. Andy Burnham has taken £37,4000 from businesses and individuals, including footballer Jamie Carragher.
Diane Abbott is yet to disclose any donations.
All information regarding disclosed donations to all five candidates is available from the Electoral Commission.
25 Responses to “Sun’s false claim Ed M’s in the pocket of the unions”
Aidan Skinner
planted stories about Tories fearing @DMiliband http://bit.ly/d700ng vs actually attacking @Ed_Miliband http://bit.ly/9BYU1W hrrm #justsayin
Andy Sutherland
RT @leftfootfwd: Sun's false claim @Ed_Miliband's in the pocket of the unions: http://bit.ly/9O9I2z
Michael Brannigan
Daniel Mayhew: Give me the seventies any day. Low unemployment, higher standard of living, lower debt, (country and individual) A power system that charged fair prices for its energy, lower taxation levels, safer streets, less crime, less violent crime. Social cohesion. A few hundred thousand on disabilities, a more accountable political system. Safer working practices and the hope of a decent retirement age and income. Sadly Ed is no old labour man, nor is he a union man. He’s New Labour through and through and that means more of the same till we’re all skint and the rich have taken every penny out of the country. Let the rich rule and the poor starve: What a wonderful world!
Jane Bolland
Honestly what is wrong with the Trade Unions investing lump sums of money to ensure that the right candidate is elected leader of the Labour Party? The party which was born from the Trade Unions! The Unions have done the right thing in backing Ed Miliband as he’s the only one who really sees the need to move the party back to the grass roots, which was the beginning of the Unions aswell as the party!
sunny hundal
RT @leftfootfwd: Sun's false claim @Ed_Miliband's in the pocket of the unions: http://bit.ly/9O9I2z << wonder who briefed this one