A British court decision concerning the use of trade-union funds for political purposes. It stemmed from an action brought by a Liberal trade unionist, W. V. Osborne, against the practice of using part of trade-union subscriptions to pay salaries to Labour Members of Parliament. The courts found in favour of Osborne. Up to this time Members of Parliament received no Parliamentary salary. This was remedied in 1911. The Trade Union Act (1913) authorized unions to have a political fund but subscriptions to it were optional, members being able to “contract out”.