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Len McCluskey: Corbyn should consider his position if polls don't improve Len McCluskey: Corbyn should consider his position if polls don't improve
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn should consider his position as Labour leader if the party’s opinion poll ratings do not improve in the run-up to the next general election, the leader of the Unite union, Len McCluskey has said. Jeremy Corbyn should consider his position as Labour leader if the party’s opinion poll ratings do not improve in the run-up to the next general election, the leader of the Unite union has said.
McCluskey, thus far one of Corbyn’s strongest supporters, said the Labour leader and his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, were “not egomaniacs” and would not want to keep their roles if there was no hope of victory. Len McCluskey, who has been one of Corbyn’s strongest supporters, said the Labour leader and his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, were “not egomaniacs” and would not want to keep their roles if there was no hope of victory.
Speaking to the Mirror, McCluskey also said Labour needed to pin down its stance on the free movement of people following departure from the EU, after different MPs expressed wildly varying assessments on the need for any change. Speaking to the Mirror, he said: “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.
Also on Monday, McCluskey’s main challenger for the leadership of Unite, Gerard Coyne, was to argue in a speech that ending free movement should be a fundamental part of Brexit, and many workers would “feel betrayed” if it did not happen.
McCluskey told the Mirror: “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.
“The truth is everybody would examine that situation, including Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.”“The truth is everybody would examine that situation, including Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.”
McCluskey, who said his backing for Corbyn was “based on critical support”, added: “These two are not egomaniacs. They are not desperate to cling on to power for power’s sake.” McCluskey, who said his backing for Corbyn was “based on critical support”, said: “These two are not egomaniacs. They are not desperate to cling on to power for power’s sake.”
McCluskey, whose union is a major funder of Labour, also warned the party could lose votes to Ukip if it did not “get its narrative right on free movement” and immigration. He also said Labour needed to pin down its stance on the free movement of people following departure from the EU, after different MPs expressed wildly varying assessments on the need for any change.
McCluskey, whose union is a major funder of Labour, said the party could lose votes to Ukip if it did not “get its narrative right on free movement” and immigration.
He said: “We need to expose what Ukip stand for – not just anti-foreign, anti-workers’ rights, their hidden agenda on the NHS and welfare state. But it will only work if ordinary people believe Labour is listening to their concerns and has solutions.”He said: “We need to expose what Ukip stand for – not just anti-foreign, anti-workers’ rights, their hidden agenda on the NHS and welfare state. But it will only work if ordinary people believe Labour is listening to their concerns and has solutions.”
Recent polls have shown Theresa May’s Conservatives leading Labour by around 12 points, with the prime minister’s personal ratings also considerably higher than Corbyn’s. Labour also performed dreadfully in December’s byelections in Richmond Park and Sleaford.Recent polls have shown Theresa May’s Conservatives leading Labour by around 12 points, with the prime minister’s personal ratings also considerably higher than Corbyn’s. Labour also performed dreadfully in December’s byelections in Richmond Park and Sleaford.
While senior Labour figures around Corbyn have insisted the party’s poll standing will improve, the comments from McCluskey increase the pressure on the Labour leader. Senior Labour figures around Corbyn have insisted the party’s poll standing will improve, but McCluskey’s comments increase the pressure on the Labour leader.
McCluskey is facing his own challenge to remain as Unite’s general secretary. In a speech on Monday, his rival Coyne was due to say that tightening border controls should be a fundamental part of the Brexit process. McCluskey is facing his own challenge to remain as Unite’s general secretary. In a speech on Monday, his rival Gerard Coyne was due to say that tightening border controls should be a fundamental part of the Brexit process.
“My many conversations with Unite members leave me in no doubt that those who voted for Brexit expect that promise of an end to uncontrolled immigration from the EU to be kept, and will feel betrayed if it is not,” he was to say in a speech in Birmingham. “My many conversations with Unite members leave me in no doubt that those who voted for Brexit expect that promise of an end to uncontrolled immigration from the EU to be kept, and will feel betrayed if it is not,” he is expected to say.
“Theresa May and other ministers should not wait until article 50 has been triggered to set out a negotiating position on free movement of labour. They should be saying now, without equivocation, that the issue is non-negotiable. There can be no compromise on the principle of taking back control of our borders.”“Theresa May and other ministers should not wait until article 50 has been triggered to set out a negotiating position on free movement of labour. They should be saying now, without equivocation, that the issue is non-negotiable. There can be no compromise on the principle of taking back control of our borders.”