Rebecca Long-Bailey reveals £200,000 Unite donation as she urges rivals to name backers
2 min read
Rebecca Long-Bailey’s campaign to become Labour leader has been boosted by more than £200,000 of donations from Unite, new figures show.
Data published by the Shadow Business Secretary’s team shows that the major trade union coughed up £100,000 on 10 February, and a further £100,000 just ten days later on February 21.
In addition, the union has also provided staffing worth £15,000 as a donation in kind.
The figures, which reveal all donations over £1,500, also show that Ms Long-Bailey has been buoyed by more than £100,000-worth of staffing and expenses from the left-wing campaign group Momentum.
Meanwhile, the CWU union has handed over £35,000 to Ms Loing-Bailey's campaign, plus staffing support worth more than £17,000.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett, a supporter of Ms Long-Bailey’s push to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, called on Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy's campaigns to also open their books.
He said: "It is welcome that Rebecca Long-Bailey has been transparent with the party membership about where her campaign’s funding is coming from.
"In the same week as ballots are being sent out, other candidates should do the same, as a matter of urgency, so voters in the leadership election can make an informed decision."
By law, each campaign is required to report donations of £1,500 or more to the Electoral Commission, which publishes quarterly figures on the amounts handed over to political parties.
Unite gave Labour £3m towards its unsuccessful general election campaign last year.
Its general secretary, Len McCluskey, is also a close ally of Mr Corbyn, who has not said who he is backing in the leadership race.
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