Banning McDonalds was a juvenile piece of gesture politics by Corbyn - we can't afford to alienate people like this

There could be a lot of empty exhibition stands in Liverpool and a penniless political party if there’s a new test that says we’re only going to allow exhibitors with tax practices, union recognition deals, permanent contracts and living wage policies we approve of

Corbyn's office said McDonalds had been turned down because of their track record on unions (Getty Images)

Labour staff halved after the election 12 months ago. Since then, the party has imposed a recruitment freeze on permanent staff and others are receiving redundancy notices.

Membership has increased, but many are paying just £1 and others are failing to renew for a second year, so the extra funds can hardly be seen to supply a stable and secure basis on which to plan the party’s work. Large donations to the central party have dried up.

As a result, we’re already routinely outspent by the Tories who have more staff and can easily raise more funds. Worse still, the Trade Union Bill could destroy Labour’s finances. Staff numbers would halve again and regional offices would be forced to close.

Imagine how the staff facing redundancy felt when they heard we’ve waved goodbye to the £30,000 McDonalds would have paid to put up a stand at Labour’s conference. This wasn’t a donation or sponsorship. They weren’t even paying to host a meeting. They wanted to put up a stand backing British farm produce.

The leader’s office said they’d been banned because of their record on union recognition and employment standards.

I’ve been a trade unionist for well over 30 years. I’ve campaigned against low pay and fought for the minimum wage for decades. I’ve worked with local young people to highlight exploitative zero-hours contracts and exposed dodgy apprenticeships in the fast food industry.

But I’ve worked for the Labour Party as well, and I know how hard it is to raise the £28m the party simply needs to function each year - let alone the millions more needed during election campaigns. I’ve also had to raise the funds needed to hold a marginal seat against all the odds and opponents with huge resources.

There could be a lot of empty exhibition stands in Liverpool and a penniless political party if there’s a new test that says we’re only going to allow exhibitors with tax practices, union recognition deals, permanent contracts and living wage policies we approve of. That could rule out countless businesses, charities, campaign organisations and NGOs. And imagine the stories the party will face over the summer as exhibitor after exhibitor has every area of their work scrutinised.

Not everyone can afford to shop at Waitrose or eat at Byron Burger, but do we really want to give a snobby impression to a company which employs 100,000 people and whose food is enjoyed by millions? Do we want to give the impression people shouldn’t work there or eat there too? What are we saying to people who’ve sunk their savings into buying a franchise and setting up a business?

My first job – while still at school - was at McDonald’s in Dudley High Street and what I learned there has stayed with me ever since. Of course I want businesses to recognise unions and pay a proper living wage, but these issues affect the whole of the service sector and McDonald’s has a better record than most.

It listened to the zero-hours campaigns and gave staff the chance to transfer to contracts with guaranteed hours. It helps employees failed by local schools get qualifications in English and Maths. Local restaurants sponsor football teams, sports tournaments and all sorts of other community activities. They raise millions for charity every year.

Banning McDonalds might make some NEC members and people in Corbyn’s office feel better but what we actually need is a properly funded and serious Labour Party capable of winning elections. Only that way can we implement a real living wage and ban dodgy zero-hours contracts for good.

That would be much more use to young people than juvenile gesture politics.