Priti Patel on form:

“In addition to curbing the size of individual donations, there is one important reform to clear up the problems of the big donor culture that could have been recommended but did not feature. That would have been to ensure that donations made by the trade unions to the Labour Party are not in breach of the Bribery Act. We’ve seen with the Warwick Agreement, the threats by unions to withdraw funding had Labour pursued its Royal Mail privatisation plans and the current reports of unions influencing Labour MPs to table and support amendments how the unions are using their financial leverage over Labour to bring about changes in the law. These practices have the stench of corruption about them and ensuring that any undue influence being exercised could lead to a prosecution under bribery laws would bring these practices the scrutiny and transparency needed.”