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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| NEC bullying claims an attempt to damage Corbyn – Unite chief | NEC bullying claims an attempt to damage Corbyn – Unite chief |
| (6 months later) | |
| The fight to control Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after the head of Britain’s biggest union claimed that allegations of bullying against union activists were part of an attempt to undermine Jeremy Corbyn. | The fight to control Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after the head of Britain’s biggest union claimed that allegations of bullying against union activists were part of an attempt to undermine Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Len McCluskey, the head of Unite, launched the outspoken attack after Labour began an official investigation into Young Labour members. | Len McCluskey, the head of Unite, launched the outspoken attack after Labour began an official investigation into Young Labour members. |
| The inquiry is being led by former Labour leader in the Lords, Jan Royall, who will look at the election of a youth representative for the NEC, won last weekend by the Labour First candidate Jasmin Beckett by a slender margin, amid accusations of intimidation from both sides. | The inquiry is being led by former Labour leader in the Lords, Jan Royall, who will look at the election of a youth representative for the NEC, won last weekend by the Labour First candidate Jasmin Beckett by a slender margin, amid accusations of intimidation from both sides. |
| The party on Tuesday night decided not to rerun the election despite a formal request from James Elliott, the candidate who was supported by Unite. | The party on Tuesday night decided not to rerun the election despite a formal request from James Elliott, the candidate who was supported by Unite. |
| The position on the NEC has become highly sought-after because of the internal struggle between the party’s right and left to control its ruling council. Both sides say that control of the party’s NEC is crucial to deciding policies and future parliamentary candidates. | The position on the NEC has become highly sought-after because of the internal struggle between the party’s right and left to control its ruling council. Both sides say that control of the party’s NEC is crucial to deciding policies and future parliamentary candidates. |
| One of the allegations made is that Unite delegates at the Young Labour conference in Scarborough were bullied into supporting James Elliott, the losing candidate. | One of the allegations made is that Unite delegates at the Young Labour conference in Scarborough were bullied into supporting James Elliott, the losing candidate. |
| McCluskey issued a statement on Tuesday that described the claims as “an organised assault” to “undermine the Labour leadership”. | McCluskey issued a statement on Tuesday that described the claims as “an organised assault” to “undermine the Labour leadership”. |
| “On behalf of Unite I want to put on record how proud I am of our young members, and the professional way that they have conducted themselves during the Young Labour elections and conference,” he said | “On behalf of Unite I want to put on record how proud I am of our young members, and the professional way that they have conducted themselves during the Young Labour elections and conference,” he said |
| “They put to shame those in our party whose conduct has been nothing short of disgraceful and confirm once again that some in our midst will stop at nothing, including destroying the reputation and hopes of our party’s young activists, in their quest to undermine the Labour leadership.” | “They put to shame those in our party whose conduct has been nothing short of disgraceful and confirm once again that some in our midst will stop at nothing, including destroying the reputation and hopes of our party’s young activists, in their quest to undermine the Labour leadership.” |
| Elliott, an Oxford University history graduate, was beaten by Beckett, a student at the University of Liverpool, at a febrile Labour Youth conference in Scarborough. Beckett won with 49.55% of the vote, beating Elliott on 49.41%. | Elliott, an Oxford University history graduate, was beaten by Beckett, a student at the University of Liverpool, at a febrile Labour Youth conference in Scarborough. Beckett won with 49.55% of the vote, beating Elliott on 49.41%. |
| In a formal complaint to the party obtained by the Guardian, Elliott said last weekend’s election to become the party’s youth representative on the national executive committee should be suspended. | In a formal complaint to the party obtained by the Guardian, Elliott said last weekend’s election to become the party’s youth representative on the national executive committee should be suspended. |
| Solicitors for Elliott wrote to Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, claiming that Elliott’s supporters were stopped from voting by party officials, some of whom were supporters of Beckett. | Solicitors for Elliott wrote to Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, claiming that Elliott’s supporters were stopped from voting by party officials, some of whom were supporters of Beckett. |
| The letter claims: | The letter claims: |
| The letter also refers to an outstanding complaint sent to the party last week by a Scottish delegate that claimed that Beckett had wrongly smeared Elliott as antisemitic and encouraged her supporters to smear him on social media. | The letter also refers to an outstanding complaint sent to the party last week by a Scottish delegate that claimed that Beckett had wrongly smeared Elliott as antisemitic and encouraged her supporters to smear him on social media. |
| “In these circumstances, it is unthinkable that the winner of the election, Jasmin Beckett, should take up her seat on the NEC pending a full and comprehensive inquiry into the lead-up to and the circumstances of the election,” the letter concludes. | “In these circumstances, it is unthinkable that the winner of the election, Jasmin Beckett, should take up her seat on the NEC pending a full and comprehensive inquiry into the lead-up to and the circumstances of the election,” the letter concludes. |
| Royall’s inquiry is also examining claims of antisemitism against Elliott – claims he vehemently denies. | Royall’s inquiry is also examining claims of antisemitism against Elliott – claims he vehemently denies. |
| Beckett has not responded to a request for a comment. | Beckett has not responded to a request for a comment. |
| However, writing for the Labour List website, Beckett said the complaints needed to be investigated and that the weekend’s conference was not “our movement at its best”. | However, writing for the Labour List website, Beckett said the complaints needed to be investigated and that the weekend’s conference was not “our movement at its best”. |
| She continued: “Factionalism, grievance and outside interference from people who were neither young nor delegates made it difficult for too many. This has got to stop. | She continued: “Factionalism, grievance and outside interference from people who were neither young nor delegates made it difficult for too many. This has got to stop. |
| “I am a working-class woman from Liverpool … Growing up, life did not seem fair. I got angry. I got into fights. And eventually I was expelled from school. | “I am a working-class woman from Liverpool … Growing up, life did not seem fair. I got angry. I got into fights. And eventually I was expelled from school. |
| “I ran away from home and was taken back to my mum by the police. Wirral Young Labour taught me that the anger I felt at society could be channelled into fighting for social justice.” | “I ran away from home and was taken back to my mum by the police. Wirral Young Labour taught me that the anger I felt at society could be channelled into fighting for social justice.” |