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/16/unite-len-mccluskey-ksliding-free-movement-ian-allinson
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Unite chief Len McCluskey accused of 'backsliding' on free movement | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Unite’s general secretary, Len McCluskey, has been accused of “backsliding” on immigration by a hard left challenger for his job who wants to create a grassroots movement to support Jeremy Corbyn. | Unite’s general secretary, Len McCluskey, has been accused of “backsliding” on immigration by a hard left challenger for his job who wants to create a grassroots movement to support Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Union organiser Ian Allinson, who works at IT firm Fujitsu, has announced that he will seek nominations to enter the leadership race, joining Gerard Coyne, who is regarded as a more centrist candidate. | Union organiser Ian Allinson, who works at IT firm Fujitsu, has announced that he will seek nominations to enter the leadership race, joining Gerard Coyne, who is regarded as a more centrist candidate. |
| Allinson on Friday criticised McCluskey for suggesting that workers could benefit from reforms to the free movement of people when Britain leaves the European Union. | Allinson on Friday criticised McCluskey for suggesting that workers could benefit from reforms to the free movement of people when Britain leaves the European Union. |
| “Following the Brexit vote Len McCluskey’s backsliding on free movement of workers is not good enough,” he said, referring to his two rivals, McCluskey and Coyne, as “the establishment candidates”. | “Following the Brexit vote Len McCluskey’s backsliding on free movement of workers is not good enough,” he said, referring to his two rivals, McCluskey and Coyne, as “the establishment candidates”. |
| He also criticised the union’s backing for huge government-funded projects, including Trident renewal and the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant. | He also criticised the union’s backing for huge government-funded projects, including Trident renewal and the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant. |
| Unite is Labour’s biggest donor, and McCluskey has been one of Corbyn’s most vocal backers. He launched his re-election bid on Friday morning with a video message in which he repeated his call for curbs on free movement, and warned rebellious MPs to fall in line behind the leader. | Unite is Labour’s biggest donor, and McCluskey has been one of Corbyn’s most vocal backers. He launched his re-election bid on Friday morning with a video message in which he repeated his call for curbs on free movement, and warned rebellious MPs to fall in line behind the leader. |
| “Workers have always done best when the labour supply is controlled and communities are stable,” he said. “While we must reject any form of racism, and help refugees fleeing war, we must also listen to the concerns of working people. | “Workers have always done best when the labour supply is controlled and communities are stable,” he said. “While we must reject any form of racism, and help refugees fleeing war, we must also listen to the concerns of working people. |
| “That’s why I have called for new safeguards to stop companies cutting costs by slashing workers’ wages and transforming a race-to-the-bottom culture into a rate-for-the-job society.” | “That’s why I have called for new safeguards to stop companies cutting costs by slashing workers’ wages and transforming a race-to-the-bottom culture into a rate-for-the-job society.” |
| McCluskey triggered the leadership race by resigning, in the hope of winning a fresh five-year term in the job. Unite has 1.4 million members and has given millions to Labour. | McCluskey triggered the leadership race by resigning, in the hope of winning a fresh five-year term in the job. Unite has 1.4 million members and has given millions to Labour. |
| McCluskey’s five-year term was due to end in 2018, so he is effectively bringing the election forward a year. The 66-year-old could have come under pressure to retire if he had stayed until the end of the scheduled term. | McCluskey’s five-year term was due to end in 2018, so he is effectively bringing the election forward a year. The 66-year-old could have come under pressure to retire if he had stayed until the end of the scheduled term. |
| Candidates for general secretary must gather nominations from at least 50 workplaces or branches by 22 February next year, and the vote will take place between late March and mid-April. | Candidates for general secretary must gather nominations from at least 50 workplaces or branches by 22 February next year, and the vote will take place between late March and mid-April. |
| Coyne, who is the union’s regional secretary in the West Midlands, has accused McCluskey of “playing Westminster power games”, by intervening in Labour party disputes. | Coyne, who is the union’s regional secretary in the West Midlands, has accused McCluskey of “playing Westminster power games”, by intervening in Labour party disputes. |
| McCluskey was a staunch defender of Corbyn during the summer leadership contest, at one point saying rebel MPs had behaved “despicably”, and should be “held to account”. | McCluskey was a staunch defender of Corbyn during the summer leadership contest, at one point saying rebel MPs had behaved “despicably”, and should be “held to account”. |