Tribune – Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left

Unite has condemned the “business as usual” attitude of the big banks in Britain after it was revealed that RBS – which has been bailed out by the taxpayer – is set to pay millions of pounds in bonuses this year. The top performers in its investment banking arm will get bonuses of up to £5 million for 2009.

The Conservative Party is facing the prospect of being investigated by the parliamentary sleaze watchdog after an animal welfare charity complained that pro-hunting groups and individuals had made influential donations to a member of the shadow cabinet.

The London Assembly is likely to be abolished by a new Conservative government. Conservative Intelligence – the £1,000-a-year, subscriber-only newsletter run by the ConservativeHome website – is predicting that the end of the authority could be a priority as part of huge public savings planned by David Cameron and George Osborne.

Tory leader David Cameron’s attempt at a backdoor deal with Czech president Vaclav Klaus to scupper the Lisbon treaty appeared to be having some success this week.

The TUC and former Bank of England economist David Blanchflower joined forces this week to call on the Government to save young people from becoming a ‘lost generation’ through long-term unemployment.

Councils were this week accused of throwing taxpayers’ money “down the drain” as it emerged that they are spending millions of pounds on the legal costs of considering women’s equal pay claims.

A senior aide to Gordon Brown has refused to confirm or deny several allegations that he is breaking Labour Party rules in order to win a parliamentary selection.

Fears of a growing threat to freedom of expression in Italy brought journalists and their supporters onto the streets in different parts of Europe last week, as pressure grew on embattled Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Unite assistant general secretary Les Bayliss was this week leading in a bid to win a nomination to run in next year’s general secretary election.

Managers at a National Health Service trust have dismissed as “absolute nonsense” claims by the Unite union that they are trying to privatise its community health division into a social enterprise without consulting staff.