Unions - geared up to oppose everything?

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With the demise of Labour from entering any real power over the next number of years (a good thing IMO), which is largely thanks to the SNP for taking the scottish labour vote...... is it now left to the unions to oppose more or less EVERYTHING the Tory government attempt to implement?

I'm just wondering how petty and far reaching they will go?


In the UK's version of democracy, aren't we supposed to expect the party in power to implement measures that were voted for, giving them a mandate to action what they do (assuming it passes both house of commons and house of lords of course).

So when does it then become 'democratic' for unions (usually backed up by lefty TV and media) to attempt to undermine the wishes of voting public?

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crankedup said:

The OP trots out the Tory Governments latest verbal weapon, 'it's in our manifesto and the public voted us into Government'.
That's all very well and dandy, however it is not to say the Government has carte Blanche to ride roughshod over employees as it pleases. Government has the responsibility to create the correct conditions and formatt that is reasonable and acceptable to those affected and represented by their Unions.

Its not a "carte blance" if it passes house of commons AND house of lords though is it?
That is why the house of lords exists - to have a sense of balance and control over an easy majority government.

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speedyman said:

The OP seems to be suggesting that he wants a one party state with no opposition.

The house of lords and the opposition bench within parliament provides the 'opposition', along with the national TV and media.

But you have to accept that with our version of democracy the winning party DOES have a right to enact what it 'promised' within its manifesto.
Otherwise it is a betrayal to the voting public.

My main point on the OP was to suggest that as labour are failing throughout the UK, are the unions now going to step up efforts and oppose everything, no matter how petty and unreasonable it may be, just so that the left can show opposition to the Tories?

My guess is that the answer would be yes.
As labour have become disorganised, out of touch and have failed the UK on numerous levels, the unions are now feeling they may have no political voice, other than to become petty on issues that can gain media attention. And its well know that the left's tactic is to shout more and shout louder when their views are not being accepted.

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speedyman said:

With our version of democracy where a minority of votes as a percentage of the whole electorate decide the goverment then its all our right to oppose if we want to. I fail to see how a right wing privatly owned press with its own agenda is going to somehow support an alternative view.

As for the house of Lords, turn up have a kip and collect £300, ninety two are even hereditary peers, real democracy there.

We need opposition more when it's weak in parliment to hold goverments to account. No goverment should think it can do as it likes just because it's in power.

Minority of votes deciding the outcome is what western democracy is.
It is the model that is advertised across the world as being the "free world", the "ideal"....the US and UK even go as far as sending planes loaded with bombs in order to install this model of democracy in to countries that do not follow the way it should be.

Your opposition to the government comes from the opposition in parliament - you voice your concerns to your local MP and they represent the people of the constituency either in favour or in opposition within the house of commons.


And again - the house of lords is there to counter the 'free will' of the elected government. The fact that it is still there suggests that the majority of people accept it and think it is effective. (No matter how much 'kipping' is done).