David Osler

British politics used to be a straightforward affair. The Tories were the bosses' party, while Labour represented the working class. However, Tony Blair transformed the relationship between Labour and the private sector to the point where Labour now claims to be the natural party of business. This new friendship has been cemented through a series of huge donations to Labour, from top business people and leading companies. Corporate supporters--including multinationals with questionable track records on union recognition, human rights, and the environment--have reaped the rewards of lucrative privatization contracts. This text offers an examination of what has been the defining phenomenon of British politics in the 1990s and start of the 2000s. It includes a comprehensive list of all Labour Party donations, and examines how the donors have benefited from having New Labour in office.… (mehr)