This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/13/len-mccluskey-too-busy-running-labour-says-unite-leadership-rival

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Len McCluskey too busy running Labour, says Unite leadership rival Len McCluskey too busy running Labour, says Unite leadership rival
(35 minutes later)
Len McCluskey has been accused of devoting too much time to running the Labour party rather than Britain’s most powerful union by a rival who hopes to become the new head of Unite. Len McCluskey is devoting too much time to running the Labour party instead of Unite, says a rival who hopes to become the new head of Britain’s most powerful union.
Gerard Coyne, a Unite activist from the West Midlands, has declared that he will stand against McCluskey, who is seeking a third term as leader. In an article for the Guardian, Coyne says the current leader has become too remote from members following allegations about the inappropriate use of money. Gerard Coyne, a Unite activist from the West Midlands, has declared he will stand against McCluskey, who is seeking a third term as leader. In an article for the Guardian, Coyne says the current leader has become too remote from members.
Coyne’s official declaration draws up the battle lines for a contest that could dictate the future of the Labour party. McCluskey, whose union is Labour’s most generous donor, has been accused of propping up Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership in the face of waning support in the polls. Coyne’s official declaration draws up the battle lines for a contest that could also dictate the future of the Labour party. McCluskey, whose union is Labour’s most generous donor, has been accused of propping up Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership in the face of waning support in the polls.
On Tuesday morning, in Birmingham, Coyne formally announced that he will stand in the union leadership contest. The month-long election will take place in the spring, with the result announced on 28 April.
Coyne hopes to win the support of members concerned by Corbyn’s anti-Trident stance, given that thousands of Unite members work in the defence industry, as well as those worried about workers in the car industry after reports suggested that the Labour leader was considering advocating a ban on petrol cars.
Corbyn’s allies see the challenge as another attempt to undermine the Labour leader. A senior source close to Corbyn said it was backed by “enemies within the party” but added that McCluskey will win. “He has support where it matters. This is a key battle for the party,” the source said.
PoliticsHome reported last week that the union will be paying two general secretaries’ salaries until the end of the election, as McCluskey will remain in post while Gail Cartmail also takes on the role of acting general secretary.
In his article, Coyne makes a direct appeal to ordinary union members, saying they are the ones whose views he wishes to represent. “Under my leadership, Unite would be a more flexible, responsive and transparent union for all our members,” he says.In his article, Coyne makes a direct appeal to ordinary union members, saying they are the ones whose views he wishes to represent. “Under my leadership, Unite would be a more flexible, responsive and transparent union for all our members,” he says.
“Often, they are people who don’t feel ‘political’, even if they are affected by political events. I believe they want a general secretary who spends less time trying to run the Labour party and more time looking after their interests.”“Often, they are people who don’t feel ‘political’, even if they are affected by political events. I believe they want a general secretary who spends less time trying to run the Labour party and more time looking after their interests.”
Coyne also makes comments that will be seen as a criticism of McCluskey for using a contribution of £400,000 from union funds to help him to buy a £700,000 flat near Borough Market in south London. “All too often, members feel the leadership of their union is too remote and out of touch and they get angry and disillusioned when they read about allegations of inappropriate uses of union money. That has to change,” Coyne says.Coyne also makes comments that will be seen as a criticism of McCluskey for using a contribution of £400,000 from union funds to help him to buy a £700,000 flat near Borough Market in south London. “All too often, members feel the leadership of their union is too remote and out of touch and they get angry and disillusioned when they read about allegations of inappropriate uses of union money. That has to change,” Coyne says.
“Unite members worry about buying clothes for their children or whether they can afford a summer holiday. They care about pay and conditions at work and their job security not who is up or down in the Westminster game of snakes and ladders.” The union has previously said the purchase agreement was an equity share arrangement commonly used to help general secretaries buy homes in London and insisted the deal would raise more money for its members when the flat was eventually sold.
Coyne said: “Unite members worry about buying clothes for their children or whether they can afford a summer holiday. They care about pay and conditions at work and their job security – not who is up or down in the Westminster game of snakes and ladders.”
Coyne, the son of union activists who has been regional secretary for 11 years and a Unite member for 28, says he will continue to campaign for a Labour government but will prioritise pay deals.Coyne, the son of union activists who has been regional secretary for 11 years and a Unite member for 28, says he will continue to campaign for a Labour government but will prioritise pay deals.
“I passionately believe Unite members would be better off under a Labour government and I will continue to work with anyone to bring that about,” he says. “But I also understand that most of those members want their union officials to concentrate on negotiating pay deals rather than playing at politics.”“I passionately believe Unite members would be better off under a Labour government and I will continue to work with anyone to bring that about,” he says. “But I also understand that most of those members want their union officials to concentrate on negotiating pay deals rather than playing at politics.”
McCluskey was elected as general secretary in November 2010, a few months after Ed Miliband became Labour leader. He was re-elected in 2013 for a five-year term and, if he wins a new mandate, it would authorise him to continue his support for Corbyn’s leadership. Unite has 1.4 million members and has given millions of pounds to the party.McCluskey was elected as general secretary in November 2010, a few months after Ed Miliband became Labour leader. He was re-elected in 2013 for a five-year term and, if he wins a new mandate, it would authorise him to continue his support for Corbyn’s leadership. Unite has 1.4 million members and has given millions of pounds to the party.
McCluskey’s decision to force a new election will be seen as a gamble in some quarters because some Unite members are concerned by Corbyn’s support for a ban on fracking and his lukewarm support for nuclear power. However, McCluskey has a high profile, which has been carefully nurtured this year to appeal to the mainly leftwing activists who tend to vote in Unite elections.McCluskey’s decision to force a new election will be seen as a gamble in some quarters because some Unite members are concerned by Corbyn’s support for a ban on fracking and his lukewarm support for nuclear power. However, McCluskey has a high profile, which has been carefully nurtured this year to appeal to the mainly leftwing activists who tend to vote in Unite elections.
McCluskey’s current five-year term is to end in 2018, so he is effectively bringing the election forward a year. The 66-year-old would have come under pressure to retire if he had stayed until the end of the scheduled term.McCluskey’s current five-year term is to end in 2018, so he is effectively bringing the election forward a year. The 66-year-old would have come under pressure to retire if he had stayed until the end of the scheduled term.
A Militant sympathiser in the 1980s, McCluskey was national secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union before becoming assistant general secretary of Unite, formed from a merger of the TGWU and Amicus.A Militant sympathiser in the 1980s, McCluskey was national secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union before becoming assistant general secretary of Unite, formed from a merger of the TGWU and Amicus.
Despite Coyne’s support from Labour’s parliamentary party and large sections of the union movement, McCluskey is still seen by many as the favourite.Despite Coyne’s support from Labour’s parliamentary party and large sections of the union movement, McCluskey is still seen by many as the favourite.