R13-4

If they continue to be collected and paid as now, affiliation fees paid to the Labour Party by trade unions and other affiliated bodies should be subject to the £10,000 cap. But the affiliated union or other body could, if they wish, change their procedures so the fees could be regarded as an aggregation of individual payments, to which the cap applies individually and not collectively, if: • The individual members of the affiliated body make a positive decision to contribute to the Labour Party by opting in to the affiliation payment when they join the body in question. Existing members should be asked to make a decision when any changes come into effect. • The arrangements for opting in, the amount of the affiliation fee and the different rate payable when not opting in are clearly set out in the information given to members at the point of joining and prominently on the organisation’s website in a form set and monitored by the Electoral Commission. • The members of an affiliated union are able to contribute to their union’s political fund even if they choose not to pay that part of the levy which represents the affiliation fee. • The fees paid accurately reflect the number of members opting in, are handed over automatically and are not capable of being held back for any reason.