One of the country's senior union leaders has called for the creation of a commission to examine the future relationship between Labour and the trade union movement..

In his final speech in the position, Transport and General Workers Union leader Sir Bill Morris called for an official review of the link between Labour and the unions.

Sir Bill, who is retiring after over 20 years as general secretary, delivered an attack on the government's direction.

"There should be a joint commission of, say, the Labour Party and the trade unions chaired by a neutral person to look at the relationship for the 21st century,'' he said on Sunday.

Such a move would create an "opportunity for trade unions to contribute positively", he added.

Ahead of the speech, Morris - who is a keen supporter of Gordon Brown - attacked the government's foundation hospitals initiative - which he believed made the break up of the NHS "almost inevitable".

Sir Bill also denied suggestions that the trade unions see funding as a way of influencing the government.

"One thing is clear. We are not about money for policy," he told the BBC. "The things we ask for we should get them as right. They are about social justice and a fairer society," he said.

"The fact of the matter is when business tried to buy policy for money we say it is political corruption. And if it is wrong for business then surely it must be wrong for trade unions.

"Ours is a relationship built on common values, shared tradition and shared history and it is to enhance the opportunity for working people to have a better life that is what we are in business for. We are not in business to trade policy for money."

He also called on the government to "renew its own thoughts and ideas for the third term".

"For far too long in the second term the government has operated in a sort of ideological free zone," he added.

"I think they need to abandon the sort of 'what works' philosophy of the third way and move ourselves on."

The RMT union has also voted to examine proposals to alter the mechanism through which it funds the Labour Party.

The union is considering plans to award more money to individual campaigns rather than donating a block of funds to the party at a national level.