Union links to the establishment Parties don't begin and end with Labour. As soon as Labour sinks in the polls the establishment Union bosses start to think of how to desert the sinking ship. Some like 'Unite' still say they will not speak to the Tories but others take a different line. ASLEF, the GMB, Unison, USDAW and the CWU have all met Richard Balfe, the Tories 'Trade Union envoy'. Balfe left Labour for the Tories last March. Before that he was the longest-serving Labour member of the European Parliament.

Unions have also been meeting Kulver Ranger and Kevin Austen who are advisers to London Tory Mayor Boris Johnson.