Len McCluskey admits election he triggered 'caused damage' to Unite
3 min read
Len McCluskey has admitted that the early general secretary election he triggered caused "damage" to the union he leads.
The left-wing veteran stood down as boss of Unite a year before his second term in office was due to expire.
He also announced that he would stand in the subsequent election, which he went on to win by narrowly defeating his rival Gerard Coyne following a bitter contest.
Trade union watchdog the Certification Officer has launched a probe into the election following claims of irregularity by Mr Coyne, who was sacked as Unite's regional officer in the West Midlands shortly after polls closed.
In a speech to a meeting of Unite officials in Birmingham, Mr McCluskey said: "It would be a bit unreal to speak to you ... and not acknowledge the damage that was done to the union’s public standing by the general secretary election last year.
"You will appreciate that there is much that I cannot say about that episode at present – but I will in time, the quicker the better. And I also appreciate that those of you here will have voted, in good faith and as is your absolute right, for any one of the candidates who stood in that election, including myself.
"But all of us should be alarmed when the work of our union is traduced, when we are painted as a reactionary or useless organisation and when the tawdry techniques of tabloid journalism are imported into our democracy. And all of us suffer when our essential unity of purpose, despite legitimate differences, is pushed to breaking point by tactics of fear and smear.
"The Unite that was portrayed in the press during that campaign was not the Unite we all know and work for. And it will be up to our executive council to find ways, consistent with our rules and the obligations of democracy and free speech, to ensure that in the future our elections are a credit to the union and not used as a political football by those who seek to use and abuse us for their own agenda.
"We owe it to our members and each other to always act with respect and decency, never letting ambition prevail over the common interest."
Mr McCluskey, 67, also announced plans to boost Unite's membership by 5% within 12 months.
And he pledged to continue campaigning to make Jeremy Corbyn the next Prime Minister.
He said: "We will never let partisan politics get in the way of fighting for jobs and investment.
"But let me say clearly – Unite is going to be fighting all out for the early general election and Labour victory that can really transform our prospects as a country."
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