EXCL Unite rapped over Scottish Labour recruitment drive
2 min read
Unite has been left red-faced after it was rapped over a drive to sign up thousands of new members to take part in the Scottish Labour leadership election.
The trade union sent text messages to its members urging them to become "affiliated supporters" in the contest in a bid to swing it in favour of left-wing candidate Richard Leonard.
Mr Leonard is up against moderate candidate Anas Sarwar in the race to succeed Kezia Dugdale, who quit in August.
Some 2,700 Unite members signed up in just two days following the union's recruitment drive.
The first text message said: "It's Unite the Union. There is a leadership election for Scottish Labour leader. If you would like to vote as an affiliated supporter please reply Y. S to stop."
A follow-up text message read: "You agree to the terms and conditions of being a Labour affiliated supporter." It also included a link to the Labour website.
However, PoliticsHome has learned that the wording of the text messages broke Labour's strict rules governing leadership elections.
They state that affiliate members must give permission for their data to be shared with Scottish Labour, and that they support the party's aims and objectives.
A Scottish Labour source said: "I understand that following conversations with the party Unite has changed its sign-up process to clarify those points.
"I also understand the union was advised that it should re-contact everyone it had previously signed up from the previous messages."
Another insider added: “[Unite general secretary] Len McCluskey wants to turn Scottish Labour back into a branch office of the UK party.
"But we fought hard for our autonomy, and members won’t take kindly to any attempts by Unite to stitch-up this contest.”
A Unite spokeswoman said: "Unite has complied fully with the rules of the Scottish Labour party, ensuring to include the links supplied to us by the SLP in all our communications to Unite members and advising members of the data-sharing requirements."
She added: "The Scottish Labour party asked Unite to send a re-statement of the terms and conditions to those who signed up by text, which we were happy to do.
"This was not an instruction but a request and in no way invalidates the sign-up process. Those who have signed are eligible."
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Any affiliated or registered supporter would be expected to support the aims and values of the Labour party.
"These sign ups are eligible and within the rules of the leadership contest."
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