Len McCluskey slams Labour 'traitors' as he insists the party did win election
1 min read
Len McCluskey has hit out at anti-Jeremy Corbyn "traitors" as he insisted the Labour party did with the general election.
The Unite leader vowed to "keep the Corbyn flag flying here" in a tub-thumping conference speech.
Mr McCluskey said Labour now stood "on the threshold of power", despite winning 54 seats fewer than the Conservatives on 8 June.
He said: "Let me say this to those merchants of doom, the whingers and the whiners who say we should have done better, we didn’t win. I say we did win.
"We won the hearts and minds of millions of people, especially the young. We won the arguments that radical policies can stir the imagination and support of the British people. And, perhaps most of all conference, we’ve won back our dignity and pride, making Labour a noble cause to fight for again."
His comments follow Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry and Cat Smith also telling conference fringe meetings that they do not believe Labour lost the general election.
In a clear swipe at Labour MPs who tried to unseat Mr Corbyn last year and who still remain unconvinced by his leadership, the trade union chief changed the lyrics of socialist anthem the Red Flag.
He said: "Let's make it clear today: though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we’ll keep the Corbyn flag flying here."
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