A senior trade unionist spoke to Tribune (9th Jan 2009) about the high level of illegitimate interference into party democracy by regional officials at Annual Conference. He is reported as saying – ‘What goes on is really unpleasant. It is a corrupt and scary regime. [Officials] have been reduced to tears under pressure and been made to feel scared about their position or even career in the party. About two-thirds of the regional officials are engaged in what has become to be seen as a routing part of the job… But it is difficult to pin down. They are very good at hiding what they do.’