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| Labour leadership: Unite executive votes to support left-winger Jeremy Corbyn | Labour leadership: Unite executive votes to support left-winger Jeremy Corbyn |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Leaders of the country's biggest trade union have voted to back Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership. | Leaders of the country's biggest trade union have voted to back Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership. |
| The executive of Unite chose the left winger ahead of Andy Burnham, who was second preference. | The executive of Unite chose the left winger ahead of Andy Burnham, who was second preference. |
| The decision is a big boost for Mr Corbyn, who has been well received at hustings involving trade unions in recent weeks. | The decision is a big boost for Mr Corbyn, who has been well received at hustings involving trade unions in recent weeks. |
| Mr Corbyn told the Press Association: "It is a great honour to receive Unite's nomination, and it underlines that this a serious campaign that has growing momentum. | |
| "The leadership election is about one issue above others: whether we accept another five years of a race to the bottom based on cuts that destroy services and damage living standards, or whether we invest our way to a growth and fairness. | |
| "I also want to thank other unions who have nominated me - Aslef and the BFAWU - and for the endorsement of two unions not affiliated to Labour, the FBU and the RMT. Trade union members are the men and women whose money worries and anxiety for the prospects of their children, are now the every day reality of these Tory austerity years. The whole of trades union history has been based on protecting people from austerity. | |
| "Without trade unions there would be no equal pay-act, no minimum pay, no Labour Party. | |
| "Trade unions are a force for good, a force for prosperity and we should listen to them more. | |
| "For Labour to win again it must show it is on the side of the majority. | |
| "I thank Unite for their nomination, not just for myself but for all those people who have already brought their time, efforts and hope to my campaign." | |
| The veteran left-winger only gained a place in the race thanks to a last minute rush of support from MPs before the nomination deadline closed, with many admitting they were only backing him to widen the debate. | The veteran left-winger only gained a place in the race thanks to a last minute rush of support from MPs before the nomination deadline closed, with many admitting they were only backing him to widen the debate. |
| But Mr Corbyn's radical stance has won him the support of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and many on left of the party. | But Mr Corbyn's radical stance has won him the support of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and many on left of the party. |
| The possibility of the MP for Islington North winning the leadership battle has excited some Conservatives, who think that a more left-wing Labour will be an electoral gift for their party. | The possibility of the MP for Islington North winning the leadership battle has excited some Conservatives, who think that a more left-wing Labour will be an electoral gift for their party. |
| Mr Corbyn warned against those backing the "Tories for Corbyn" campaign in which supporters of the Government are signing up to vote in the leadership contest for £3 as a registered Labour supporter, under changes to the voting system introduced by Ed Miliband. | Mr Corbyn warned against those backing the "Tories for Corbyn" campaign in which supporters of the Government are signing up to vote in the leadership contest for £3 as a registered Labour supporter, under changes to the voting system introduced by Ed Miliband. |
| The possibility of Corbyn winning has excited some Tories (PA) Asked about the campaign on BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics, Mr Corbyn said: "If people do not support the Labour Party and do not wish to vote Labour, either in future elections or have done so in the past, they should not be registering as Labour supporters, it's not an honest thing to do. | |
| "It's not as easy as you think because those that sign have to give an undertaking that they support the aims and principles of the Labour Party, I think that's important. | "It's not as easy as you think because those that sign have to give an undertaking that they support the aims and principles of the Labour Party, I think that's important. |
| "And if they have identified themselves in the last election for example as supporting another party, then clearly one questions their motivation in this." | "And if they have identified themselves in the last election for example as supporting another party, then clearly one questions their motivation in this." |
| Press Association | Press Association |