Wednesday 10 March 2010

Two Calls a Day to Keep the Tories Away



My labour supporting reader Niko left the following in one of his comments.

It's from Charlie Whelan, the Political Director of the Unite Union. I wonder if Unite members are refunded the cost of the telephone calls.

The Times today carries an extensive analysis of a poll in the key marginal seats by Populus which puts Labour and the Tories neck and neck at 38 per cent. It is confirmation of a spate of recent articles that shows underlying the headlines the Tories have not sealed the deal with the electorate. It also excludes the 50 most marginal seats which are assumed to go Tory. But we know that the Unite membership in those 50 seats far exceeds the majority being defended. If it is game on in the 100 quoted, it must be battle joined in the 50 they have excluded.

This is all the more reason why we need to build on the momentum from last week's record number of calls made to Unite members in the key seats. There's another "Talk Thursday" this week and regional phone banks have been organised across the UK for this Saturday. Please get involved and make those "Two calls a day to keep the Tories away".

If you are unsure as to where your regional phone bank is this Saturday or are having problems gaining access to the virtual phone bank, please contact me or my colleague Andrew Brady at andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org

All the best,

Charlie Whelan
Political Director

12 comments:

Jess The Dog said...

Is this legal under the Data Protection Act?

ie. data being processed for the purpose it was gathered?

I suspect it will take a member to complain to the ICO rather than a third party.

Alternatively, could a complaint be made to the Electoral Commission?

subrosa said...

Actually Jess you may have a point there. In my last post about this Whelan's idea was that Unite members phoned each other so it was not a political call but a personal call he was implying I think.

But he's using members' money to pay for it all and a data base. So yes, there may be something although I doubt if it will be found until after the election.

Dark Lochnagar said...

The Tories will be doing the same in some way. Something will be found after the election 3 million postal votes!

subrosa said...

Possibly DL but this is rather dubious to say the least.

Apogee said...

Unfortunatly,This is what unions do.
A lot of the ordinary members don't like this kind of behavior, but would get too much hassle in the workplace from the union to object.
But, hey. This is how you advance in the union and the labour party.

subrosa said...

Ah right Apogee. I'm not experienced much in the behaviour of unions so thanks for your information.

Crinkly & Ragged Arsed Philosophers said...

Just imagine the uproar if these tactics were employed by the City of London to the Conservatives benefit.

Pure Tammany Hall tactics by union mafiosa.Deplorable and desperately cheap.

subrosa said...

It's a pity the tories feel unable to use this as a stick to beat labour. They just don't seem to have the attack dogs do they RA?

Allan said...

Please get involved and make those "Two calls a day to keep the Tories away".

Ah, but which Tories, the Red Tories or the Blue Tories?

Crinkly & Ragged Arsed Philosophers said...

Rosa; like the rest of the Westminster parties they're a vacuous vacuum looking for a backbone.

Brown promised last night, "he wouldn't let us down" He would have to redefine the laws of physics to bring the country down any further than he already has during his chancellorship and premiership.

subrosa said...

Is there a difference Allan?

subrosa said...

RA I was astonished at his talk yesterday. Haven't managed to get round to writing about it, but then again, is it worth it.

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