Boost for Len McCluskey as union watchdog says Unite correct to call general secretary election
2 min read
A top judge has ruled that Unite was correct to call a general secretary election when Len McCluskey dramatically quit the role.
Jeffrey Burke QC said the union acted in accordance with its own rules as it threw out a complaint by Mr McCluskey’s rival, Gerard Coyne.
Mr Burke is acting on behalf of the Certification Officer, who is the trade union watchdog.
A week-long hearing will now take place in June to consider eight other complaints lodged by Mr Coyne, who narrowly lost out to Mr McCluskey in the general secretary election last year.
That contest was sparked when left-wing veteran Mr McCluskey stood down before the end of his term of office.
A Unite spokesperson said: “Unite welcomes the assistant certification officer’s rejection of Mr Coyne’s complaint and his ruling that the union acted in accordance with its rules in calling a general secretary election.
“It should be noted that when the general secretary election was called no complaints or objections were made by Mr Coyne or any other individuals.
“Unite presumes that Mr Coyne will accept the judgement and looks forward to the election being fully upheld following June’s hearing, allowing the union to focus unhindered on the job of representing its members.”
Mr Coyne said he was “naturally disappointed” by the ruling.
“I believe that Len McCluskey was wrong to pick and choose the timing of his re-election campaign, even though the Certification Officer has now found in his favour,” he said.
“I will now be considering whether to appeal this decision to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
“Unfortunately we do not have the deep pockets that Unite has, which would have enabled them to fund an appeal without difficulty if the decision had gone the other way."
The Certification Officer can order a re-run of the general secretary election if Mr Burke finds in Mr Coyne’s favour following the June hearing.
The row is significant because Mr McCluskey is a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn.
If he were to be deposed as Unite boss by the moderate Mr Coyne, it could tip the balance of Labour’s ruling national executive committee against the Labour leader.
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