Political representation

I have posted status updates regarding this but I feel it's time to open it up to further discussion.  We in the labour movement are engaged in the biggest struggles for a generation and they are quite clearly set to get worse.  Many unions (the ones that fund at least) continue to rely on the Labour party to fight for them.  I and many others believe this to be deeply flawed at best and damaging and useless at worst.  Labour embraced free market idealogy with an enthusiasm that bordered on the lustful; they failed to repeal the crippling anti-trade union laws that hamstring our movement and attacked worker rights.  They bailed out the banks with our money and their leader Milliband supports the damaging public sector pay cap.  Why then do certain unions continue to fund a party that is entirely dead as a vehicle for worker's struggle?  In order to fight for our members and to establish a fairer society the labour movement must now begin to build its own political party, one that puts people before profit and is prepared to take decisive actions against the exploiters.  Those unions affiliated to Labour should put the decision as to whether to continue with this into the hands of their members; I would be willing to bet many would vote to disaffiliate!  Trade unionists sick of the establishment parties should look at the excellent work being done by TUSC (Trade Unionist Socialist Coalition) to build a new workers party.  Discussion/debate around this would be welcomed ad I think it is something that should be at the forefront of our strategies.

Seljo