Employment Bill [HL]

I do not think I have heard so many warm words about trade unionists and trade unions from Conservative politicians, either in this House or another House, than I have in the past few days. I think that is something of a blue herring rather than a red herring, because I have twice heard references to people having Conservative Party association or views being in danger of some form of expulsion from a trade union, which is something that I have never personally experienced. I had the privilege of being the chairman of a Labour-affiliated trade union, of which a very distinguished Secretary of State under the noble Baroness, Lady Thatcher, was a member. He came to meetings. No one ever suggested that he should not or that his views were not compatible with membership of what is now part of the GMB. He paid the political levy, but I suspect that was a mistake. The important thing is that I never heard that questioned. There was a distinguished Minister from the Midlands who was a member of the NUM during the miners’ dispute. Again, I never heard anyone suggesting that there should be an expulsion. In our last debate, I was much persuaded by the view of the noble Lord, Lord Lester, that it is better to have something to protect than leave it to the vagaries of the courts. In that sense I ask whether it is a Conservative Party view not only that there are there warm words to be said about the value of trade unions, but that the party does not believe that Conservative trade unionists are in any danger whatsoever from the trade union movement.