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Len McCluskey: 'Awful' polling could derail Corbyn Len McCluskey: 'Awful' polling could derail Corbyn
(about 2 hours later)
Jeremy Corbyn could step down if Labour's fortunes do not improve before the next general election in 2020, one of his closest allies has suggested.Jeremy Corbyn could step down if Labour's fortunes do not improve before the next general election in 2020, one of his closest allies has suggested.
Len McCluskey, head of the Unite union, described the party's standing in the opinion polls as "awful".Len McCluskey, head of the Unite union, described the party's standing in the opinion polls as "awful".
He said Mr Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell were not "desperate to cling onto power for power's sake".He said Mr Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell were not "desperate to cling onto power for power's sake".
Mr McCluskey is seeking re-election as general secretary of Unite, which is Labour's biggest donor.Mr McCluskey is seeking re-election as general secretary of Unite, which is Labour's biggest donor.
'Critical support''Critical support'
He has been accused by rival contender Gerard Coyne of "playing Westminster power games" rather than focusing on the union's members.He has been accused by rival contender Gerard Coyne of "playing Westminster power games" rather than focusing on the union's members.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Mr McCluskey suggested Unite's leadership contest was being used by Mr Corbyn's critics as a "proxy war" against the party leader.Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Mr McCluskey suggested Unite's leadership contest was being used by Mr Corbyn's critics as a "proxy war" against the party leader.
As Unite leader, he said he offered "critical support" for Mr Corbyn. As Unite leader, he said, he offered "critical support" to Mr Corbyn.
He added: "Let's suppose we are not having a snap election.He added: "Let's suppose we are not having a snap election.
"It buys into this question of what happens if we get to 2019 and opinion polls are still awful."It buys into this question of what happens if we get to 2019 and opinion polls are still awful.
"The truth is everybody would examine that situation, including Jeremy Corbyn.""The truth is everybody would examine that situation, including Jeremy Corbyn."
On Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell, he added: "These two are not egomaniacs, they are not desperate to cling onto power for power's sake."On Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell, he added: "These two are not egomaniacs, they are not desperate to cling onto power for power's sake."
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said Mr McCluskey, an early, vocal and influential advocate of Jeremy Corbyn becoming leader, was making clear he may have a political sell-by date. Migration debate
Mr McCluskey also said Labour had to show "ordinary people" it was "listening to their concerns" on immigration, saying it had to "get its narrative right on free movement".
Mr Corbyn has defended the principle of free movement and declined to offer "false promises" on migration numbers.
But others in his party have said the system must change in light of the Brexit vote.
Mr Coyne focused on Brexit in a speech in Birmingham, warning that new immigration controls had to be "non-negotiable" when talks between the UK and the EU get under way.
Unite members who voted for Brexit expected a promise of an end to uncontrolled immigration from the EU to be kept, "and will feel betrayed if it is not", he said.