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Unite's Len McCluskey attacks Labour over Falkirk selection Unite's Len McCluskey attacks Labour over Falkirk probe
(about 1 hour later)
Labour leader Ed Miliband is in a stand-off with the party's biggest union backer over the selection of candidates for the next election.Labour leader Ed Miliband is in a stand-off with the party's biggest union backer over the selection of candidates for the next election.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey has denounced a Labour internal inquiry into candidate selection in Falkirk as a "stitch-up".Unite general secretary Len McCluskey has denounced a Labour internal inquiry into candidate selection in Falkirk as a "stitch-up".
He denied claims Unite signed up new party members without them knowing, to influence the process.He denied claims Unite signed up new party members without them knowing, to influence the process.
Labour's Angela Eagle denies Unite's claims the party "smeared" the union.Labour's Angela Eagle denies Unite's claims the party "smeared" the union.
The party has suspended two members of the local party amid claims of a "potential abuse of membership rules".The party has suspended two members of the local party amid claims of a "potential abuse of membership rules".
The row between Labour and its biggest union backer centres around claims of vote rigging in the process to replace Eric Joyce as Labour's candidate in Falkirk for the 2015 general election.The row between Labour and its biggest union backer centres around claims of vote rigging in the process to replace Eric Joyce as Labour's candidate in Falkirk for the 2015 general election.
It has already seen the party step in to run the process centrally and suspend rules under which unions could sign up members to the Labour Party and pay the fees on their behalf.It has already seen the party step in to run the process centrally and suspend rules under which unions could sign up members to the Labour Party and pay the fees on their behalf.
On Thursday, Labour's general election co-ordinator Tom Watson, whose office manager Karie Murphy was Unite's preferred candidate in Falkirk, quit for the "future unity" of the party. Ms Murphy and Falkirk party chairman Stephen Deans were suspended by the party.On Thursday, Labour's general election co-ordinator Tom Watson, whose office manager Karie Murphy was Unite's preferred candidate in Falkirk, quit for the "future unity" of the party. Ms Murphy and Falkirk party chairman Stephen Deans were suspended by the party.
'A stitch-up''A stitch-up'
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the row had gone much wider and was actually about the future composition of the Labour Party and what sort of people became the party's MPs.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the row had gone much wider and was actually about the future composition of the Labour Party and what sort of people became the party's MPs.
Unite's stated strategy is to "shift the balance in the party away from middle class academics and professionals towards people who have actually represented workers and fought the boss".Unite's stated strategy is to "shift the balance in the party away from middle class academics and professionals towards people who have actually represented workers and fought the boss".
In a letter to Labour's general secretary, Mr McCluskey said the union had "nothing whatsoever to do" with the alleged attempt to sign 100 or more members to the constituency party and paying their subscriptions. Nick Robinson said Blairites within the party believed there was an organised, heavily-funded campaign to try to rig candidate selection in a particular direction.
But in a letter to Labour's general secretary, Mr McCluskey said the union had "nothing whatsoever to do" with the alleged attempt to sign 100 or more members to the constituency party and paying their subscriptions.
"The report has been used to smear Unite and its members," he said. "It is noteworthy that members of the shadow cabinet have been in the lead in initiating this attack.""The report has been used to smear Unite and its members," he said. "It is noteworthy that members of the shadow cabinet have been in the lead in initiating this attack."
Mr McCluskey said Labour's internal investigation was "simply a stitch-up" designed to "produce some evidence, however threadbare, to justify pre-determined decisions". He demanded an independent inquiry into the events in Falkirk.Mr McCluskey said Labour's internal investigation was "simply a stitch-up" designed to "produce some evidence, however threadbare, to justify pre-determined decisions". He demanded an independent inquiry into the events in Falkirk.
"I, however, am obliged to uphold the integrity of Unite, and I can no longer do so on the basis of going along with the activities of a Labour party administration in which I can place no trust.""I, however, am obliged to uphold the integrity of Unite, and I can no longer do so on the basis of going along with the activities of a Labour party administration in which I can place no trust."
'Abuse of selections'
Angela Eagle, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, told the BBC the report compiled was "not a smear against his union, it's about individual instances of wrongdoing and potential issues about membership manipulation."Angela Eagle, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, told the BBC the report compiled was "not a smear against his union, it's about individual instances of wrongdoing and potential issues about membership manipulation."
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's up to the leader of the Labour Party, not anyone else, to decide to take the action that we've taken to ensure that our rules are followed. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's up to the leader of the Labour Party, not anyone else, to decide to take the action that we've taken to ensure that our rules are followed... The NEC (Labour's executive body) will be looking at this too. Outside of that, it's nobody's duty but ours to deal with this issue."
"People can have an opinion about what action to take, but the leader and the general secretary of our party have made these decisions. The NEC (Labour's executive body) will be looking at this too. Outside of that, it's nobody's duty but ours to deal with this issue. Mr Watson, who resigned on Thursday from his shadow cabinet role as election co-ordinator, told BBC Radio WM that he had been thinking about it for a few months but the "fuss" about the Falkirk selection had persuaded him it was time to move on.
"We will not tolerate the kind of behaviour we have seen in Falkirk, whoever is responsible." He repeated his belief that some within the party had never forgiven him for resigning as a junior defence minister in 2006 and calling for Tony Blair to step down as prime minister.
"I kept reading in papers that there were unattributed briefings from the shadow cabinet... There was clearly a problem with some of my colleagues around the shadow cabinet table and obviously I do accept that.
"It was a big thing I did in 2006. But what I don't want to do is make that a problem... So, no hard feelings, I'm off."
He said he did not know what had happened in Falkirk but "clearly something had gone wrong" that had to be sorted out.
However he added: "I think David Cameron's portrayal of the situation, that everyone is in hock to Len McCluskey, is just not true."
Mr Miliband said: "I am not going to have abuse of membership procedures and parliamentary selections in my party, and that is very clear, and I want to be clear about that to the leadership of Unite the Union in particular."Mr Miliband said: "I am not going to have abuse of membership procedures and parliamentary selections in my party, and that is very clear, and I want to be clear about that to the leadership of Unite the Union in particular."
But David Cameron said it was now "quite clear the trade unions have far too much control over Labour".But David Cameron said it was now "quite clear the trade unions have far too much control over Labour".
"This has happened on Ed Miliband's watch. It is something of a scandal that is unfolding and he badly needs to grip it," he said."This has happened on Ed Miliband's watch. It is something of a scandal that is unfolding and he badly needs to grip it," he said.
The Falkirk vacancy emerged when MP Eric Joyce was kicked out of the party after committing an assault in a House of Commons bar.The Falkirk vacancy emerged when MP Eric Joyce was kicked out of the party after committing an assault in a House of Commons bar.