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Unite boss reiterates support for Corbyn after union officials back Burnham Unite boss reiterates support for Corbyn after union officials back Burnham
(34 minutes later)
Unite boss Len McCluskey has stressed his union’s endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader, after senior officials at Unite wrote to members urging a vote for rival candidate Andy Burnham instead.Unite boss Len McCluskey has stressed his union’s endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader, after senior officials at Unite wrote to members urging a vote for rival candidate Andy Burnham instead.
In an email entitled ‘Don’t be misled – vote Corbyn’, McCluskey said statements circulated by Labour leadership campaigns had created confusion about Unite’s official position. In an email entitled Don’t be misled – vote Corbyn, McCluskey said statements circulated by Labour leadership campaigns had created confusion about Unite’s official position.
“The decision of the Unite executive council is absolutely clear – we support Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader and urge all eligible Unite members to vote for him. His progressive policies for equality and social justice are what the party and the country needs.”“The decision of the Unite executive council is absolutely clear – we support Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader and urge all eligible Unite members to vote for him. His progressive policies for equality and social justice are what the party and the country needs.”
The email does not mention the fact that Burnham is Unite’s second preference choice.The email does not mention the fact that Burnham is Unite’s second preference choice.
McCluskey moved to clarify Unite’s position after two members of the union’s executive council, Joyce Still and Steve Hibbert, emailed affiliated Labour supporters backing Burnham. Labour has tripled its potential electorate to more than 600,000 registered supporters and voters but there was a backlash against the party’s verification process on Thursday as people claiming to be genuine supporters were barred.
The party was inundated with complaints after sending emails to supporters telling them their applications have been rejected and that they will not be able to vote in the leadership election.
Many of the rejected applicants – lots of them Corbyn supporters – said they were longstanding Labour voters and took to Twitter to express their outrage with the hashtag #LabourPurge.
McCluskey moved to clarify Unite’s position on Thursday after two members of the union’s executive council, Joyce Still and Steve Hibbert, emailed affiliated Labour supporters backing Burnham.
“As members of Unite’s executive committee, we are writing to urge you to back Andy in this leadership election,” they said in the email seen by the Guardian, without mentioning the official endorsement of Corbyn.“As members of Unite’s executive committee, we are writing to urge you to back Andy in this leadership election,” they said in the email seen by the Guardian, without mentioning the official endorsement of Corbyn.
Their message – saying Burnham is the “only candidate who offers a radical vision with economic credibility at its heart” – reveals a split at the top of the union about who should be Labour leader.Their message – saying Burnham is the “only candidate who offers a radical vision with economic credibility at its heart” – reveals a split at the top of the union about who should be Labour leader.
Azza Samms, chair of the union’s aerospace and shipbuilding division, also emailed its members saying its national industrial sector committee (NISC) preferred Burnham.Azza Samms, chair of the union’s aerospace and shipbuilding division, also emailed its members saying its national industrial sector committee (NISC) preferred Burnham.
In the email, seen by the Guardian, Samms wrote: “The NISC considered the positions the two candidates have taken in regard to our industry and the defence sector in particular.In the email, seen by the Guardian, Samms wrote: “The NISC considered the positions the two candidates have taken in regard to our industry and the defence sector in particular.
“As a result, the NISC took a decision to endorse Andy Burnham as their choice for leader and advise members in the sector who are Labour party members or registered supporters to vote for him as number one in the single transferable voting system. The NISC did not agree with the executive council view that members should support Jeremy Corbyn.” “As a result, the NISC took a decision to endorse Andy Burnham as their choice for leader and advise members in the sector who are Labour party members or registered supporters to vote for him as number one in the single transferable voting system.
“The NISC did not agree with the executive council view that members should support Jeremy Corbyn.”
Corbyn is the frontrunner in the contest, having overtaken Burnham as favourite after winning the endorsements of Unite and Unison, as well as sparking a groundswell of grassroots enthusiasm.Corbyn is the frontrunner in the contest, having overtaken Burnham as favourite after winning the endorsements of Unite and Unison, as well as sparking a groundswell of grassroots enthusiasm.
However, it is understood Burnham’s team is trying especially hard to win over union voters in the hope that they are less likely to be natural Corbyn supporters than those who have signed up for £3 as registered supporters or as new full members.However, it is understood Burnham’s team is trying especially hard to win over union voters in the hope that they are less likely to be natural Corbyn supporters than those who have signed up for £3 as registered supporters or as new full members.
One leadership camp said its canvassing data suggests Corbyn is only getting about 40% of the votes of Unite members, who make up more than half of the 190,000 affiliated supporters.One leadership camp said its canvassing data suggests Corbyn is only getting about 40% of the votes of Unite members, who make up more than half of the 190,000 affiliated supporters.