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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/16/unite-boss-says-he-had-unions-full-backing-over-property-deal
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| Unite boss says he had union's full backing over property deal Unite boss says he had union's full backing over property deal | |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| The Unite union has said its boss, Len McCluskey, had its full backing when it made a £417,000 contribution to the cost of buying his London flat, after suggestions he had privately apologised for a statement saying the arrangement had been approved by the executive council. | The Unite union has said its boss, Len McCluskey, had its full backing when it made a £417,000 contribution to the cost of buying his London flat, after suggestions he had privately apologised for a statement saying the arrangement had been approved by the executive council. |
| When the Guardian revealed last month that the union had paid more than half of the purchase price of McCluskey’s £700,000 property close to the Thames, Unite said: “The arrangement has the full authority of Unite’s executive council.” | When the Guardian revealed last month that the union had paid more than half of the purchase price of McCluskey’s £700,000 property close to the Thames, Unite said: “The arrangement has the full authority of Unite’s executive council.” |
| Unite has rejected an unofficial report of September’s executive committee meeting, which said McCluskey “apologised for the line saying the EC [executive committee] had authorised this”. | Unite has rejected an unofficial report of September’s executive committee meeting, which said McCluskey “apologised for the line saying the EC [executive committee] had authorised this”. |
| Unite retains its share of equity in the flat, but the arrangement is said to have prompted disquiet in some parts of the union. | Unite retains its share of equity in the flat, but the arrangement is said to have prompted disquiet in some parts of the union. |
| McCluskey addressed the matter in last month’s executive committee meeting, according to an account posted on the website of the Unite Now members group which is made up of hard left members including some critics of McCluskey. The Guardian understands that more than one of its members were in the executive committee meeting when McCluskey spoke about the story. | McCluskey addressed the matter in last month’s executive committee meeting, according to an account posted on the website of the Unite Now members group which is made up of hard left members including some critics of McCluskey. The Guardian understands that more than one of its members were in the executive committee meeting when McCluskey spoke about the story. |
| According to the Unite Now account, McCluskey told the committee the statement was “put together by staff and had Len realised it had said what it did then he would have changed it; he again apologised for any embarrassment caused”. | According to the Unite Now account, McCluskey told the committee the statement was “put together by staff and had Len realised it had said what it did then he would have changed it; he again apologised for any embarrassment caused”. |
| McCluskey reportedly told the meeting that the statement should have said “that this was historically the practice for all previous general secretary’s [sic] and because of personal circumstances he also needed to do this”. | McCluskey reportedly told the meeting that the statement should have said “that this was historically the practice for all previous general secretary’s [sic] and because of personal circumstances he also needed to do this”. |
| This section of the published Unite Now meeting report has now been redacted online, and Unite has contradicted the account. | This section of the published Unite Now meeting report has now been redacted online, and Unite has contradicted the account. |
| Unite’s legal director, Howard Beckett, said: “Both the lay and official officers of the union correctly authorised the union’s part-purchase of the property in question; the purchase had the full authority of the union. Consequently Mr McCluskey had no reason to, and of course did not, apologise for any statement that the purchase had the full authority of the union.” | Unite’s legal director, Howard Beckett, said: “Both the lay and official officers of the union correctly authorised the union’s part-purchase of the property in question; the purchase had the full authority of the union. Consequently Mr McCluskey had no reason to, and of course did not, apologise for any statement that the purchase had the full authority of the union.” |
| He added: “The purpose of the Guardian article being discussed with the executive was to allow the executive the opportunity to condemn the press intrusion into the general secretary’s private life. The executive unanimously condemned the press coverage and unanimously offered their support for the general secretary.” | He added: “The purpose of the Guardian article being discussed with the executive was to allow the executive the opportunity to condemn the press intrusion into the general secretary’s private life. The executive unanimously condemned the press coverage and unanimously offered their support for the general secretary.” |
| In reference to the Unite Now account of the meeting, Beckett said: “This is not an official Unite minute, it is a commentary piece from a group of activists, no more.”He added:“We can only imagine that this commentary has in some way been influenced by the inaccurate press reports surrounding this matter.” | In reference to the Unite Now account of the meeting, Beckett said: “This is not an official Unite minute, it is a commentary piece from a group of activists, no more.”He added:“We can only imagine that this commentary has in some way been influenced by the inaccurate press reports surrounding this matter.” |
| Beckett said an official minute would be approved and published. “We would suggest you wait for this official minute to be approved by the executive,” he said. | Beckett said an official minute would be approved and published. “We would suggest you wait for this official minute to be approved by the executive,” he said. |
| Unite said that the purchase of the flat was made with the full authority of the union. | Unite said that the purchase of the flat was made with the full authority of the union. |
| When details of the deal first emerged, Beckett described it as “extraordinarily commonplace”. He said: “Unions have put such measures in place for senior officers for decades. The intention is to best facilitate the performance of roles that are London-based whilst ensuring the union’s finances are best invested and receive a return on the properties concerned.” | When details of the deal first emerged, Beckett described it as “extraordinarily commonplace”. He said: “Unions have put such measures in place for senior officers for decades. The intention is to best facilitate the performance of roles that are London-based whilst ensuring the union’s finances are best invested and receive a return on the properties concerned.” |