PARTISAN Tory attempts to cripple Labour’s finances by cutting off union funding could be defeated in the Lords after being criticised yesterday by the Prime Minister’s own ethics adviser.

Lord Bew, the chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said the plan, which is part of the Trade Union Bill, is “not in the spirit” of the committee’s advice.

Moving to an opt-in system for trade union political levy payers, whereby members would have to state in writing that they want to make a donation to Labour, was recommended by the committee in 2011.