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| McCluskey set to face Unite challenge from Gerard Coyne | McCluskey set to face Unite challenge from Gerard Coyne |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A leading Unite official is expected to announce he is challenging Len McCluskey for the leadership of the UK's largest union on Tuesday. | A leading Unite official is expected to announce he is challenging Len McCluskey for the leadership of the UK's largest union on Tuesday. |
| Gerard Coyne, Unite's West Midlands secretary, is understood to be frustrated by the positioning of the union and its stance on some issues. | Gerard Coyne, Unite's West Midlands secretary, is understood to be frustrated by the positioning of the union and its stance on some issues. |
| Mr McCluskey has already announced his intention to resign early in the new year to enable him to run again. | Mr McCluskey has already announced his intention to resign early in the new year to enable him to run again. |
| He is one of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's most prominent backers. | |
| Unite has provided crucial backing for Mr Corbyn in the face of significant opposition from many of the party's MPs. | Unite has provided crucial backing for Mr Corbyn in the face of significant opposition from many of the party's MPs. |
| BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Coyne's challenge would be seen by the Labour leader's allies as a political attack. | BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Coyne's challenge would be seen by the Labour leader's allies as a political attack. |
| Laura Kuenssberg: What McCluskey fight means for Labour | Laura Kuenssberg: What McCluskey fight means for Labour |
| Mr McCluskey, who is seeking to run again to keep control of the union, is one of the most influential figures in the Labour movement and will start the contest in a strong position to fend off the challenge. | Mr McCluskey, who is seeking to run again to keep control of the union, is one of the most influential figures in the Labour movement and will start the contest in a strong position to fend off the challenge. |
| But Mr Coyne, who has worked for Unite for more than 20 years, is understood to be frustrated with the positioning of the union, and what he considers its focus on the political priorities of his rival rather than Unite's 1.4 million members. | But Mr Coyne, who has worked for Unite for more than 20 years, is understood to be frustrated with the positioning of the union, and what he considers its focus on the political priorities of his rival rather than Unite's 1.4 million members. |
| Trident concerns | Trident concerns |
| Although Mr Corbyn has enjoyed strong support from the Unite leadership, Mr Coyne is understood to be concerned about his anti-Trident stance given that thousands of Unite members work in the defence industry, as well as about the potential impact on auto industry workers after reports suggested the Labour leader is considering advocating a ban on petrol cars. | Although Mr Corbyn has enjoyed strong support from the Unite leadership, Mr Coyne is understood to be concerned about his anti-Trident stance given that thousands of Unite members work in the defence industry, as well as about the potential impact on auto industry workers after reports suggested the Labour leader is considering advocating a ban on petrol cars. |
| A supporter of Mr Coyne said: "Gerard feels the union needs to get back on track and start placing its members' interests ahead of party politics again. | A supporter of Mr Coyne said: "Gerard feels the union needs to get back on track and start placing its members' interests ahead of party politics again. |
| "He thinks he is the right man for the job." | "He thinks he is the right man for the job." |
| The result of the contest, which will run into next spring, will dictate who has control over a huge network of political supporters, organisation, and financial infrastructure. | The result of the contest, which will run into next spring, will dictate who has control over a huge network of political supporters, organisation, and financial infrastructure. |
| Unite has consistently been the most generous donor to Labour, and has become even more crucial given the softening of support among some other union backers for Mr Corbyn. | Unite has consistently been the most generous donor to Labour, and has become even more crucial given the softening of support among some other union backers for Mr Corbyn. |