Ed Miliband pledges to end Labour’s ‘machine politics’ – Media roundup: July 9th, 2013

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Ed Miliband pledges to end Labour’s ‘machine politics’ – but he’s warned he could turn McCluskey into Scargill

Union boss Len McCluskey could become the “new Arthur Scargill”, Ed Miliband has been warned. The Labour leader will today move to loosen trade unions’ grip on his party with a major rules shake-up. But it is merely a “sticking plaster”, according to one Labour MP on the right of the party, who said Mr Miliband should have demanded Mr McCluskey’s head in the wake of the Falkirk scandal. Comparing the Unite boss to the former National Union of Mineworkers chief, the MP added: “The ­Conservatives will turn Len McCluskey into the new Arthur Scargill – his picture will be on every Tory election leaflet.” – Mirror

Other highlights

• Labour needs the unions, but both need members – Polly Toynbee, Guardian
• Miliband’s gamble on union funding could cost Labour millions – but it is one he had to take – George Eaton, New Statesman
• The barons are dead. Long live the rank and file! – Rachel Sylvester, The Times(£)
• Union linked candidate in corrupt selection (AKA Margaret Thatcher) –Political Scrapbook
• Looking for a party funding scandal? Try David Cameron’s Conservatives – Aditya Chakrabortty, Guardian
• Right said Ed – The Sun