Len McCluskey praised by Labour MPs for ordering Unite funding review
Exclusive: Unite leader disagreed with Labour paying damages to antisemitism whistleblowers
THE GUARDIAN AUGUST 2, 2020
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/02/len-mccluskey-praised-by-labour-mps-for-ordering-unite-funding-review
THE GUARDIAN AUGUST 2, 2020
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/02/len-mccluskey-praised-by-labour-mps-for-ordering-unite-funding-review
Ian Lavery, the party chair under Jeremy Corbyn, is one of three former shadow ministers who have told the Guardian they support the union’s general secretary for re-examining whether to donate to Labour in the wake of the six-figure settlements.
Their interventions will increase tensions between the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs and Labour’s leader following the latter’s decision to apologise and pay damages to seven staff who claimed they had been defamed by senior party figures after taking part in a BBC Panorama documentary on antisemitism.
It comes amid growing speculation about the future leadership of the UK’s three biggest unions – Unite, Unison and the GMB – which are responsible for a majority of Labour’s funds.
McCluskey, whose union has given Labour around £7m since January 2019, said on Saturday that paying the damages was an “abuse of members’ money”. He told the Observer: “A lot of it is Unite’s money and I’m already being asked all kinds of questions by my executive. It’s as though a huge sign has been put up outside the Labour party with ‘queue here with your writ and get your payment over there’.”
Lavery, who was also shadow minister for trade unions under Corbyn, said: “What Len says is extremely important. I have had people asking me from Unite if it is right that members’ money is used to finance Keir’s legal challenges and pay compensation when the advice that the party allegedly had was that the party was in a very strong position to defend the claims.
“People have got to be accountable and responsible. You cannot expect unions to pump millions of pounds into the party if the party isn’t accountable.”
Another former shadow cabinet minister agreed: “Starmer is on warning that he must work with everyone across the movement and cash has to be accounted for. The lurch to the right will not be paid for with union subs.” Another said: “Len said what a lot of us have been thinking.”
The party settled with the ex-staffers as part of an attempt to draw a line under the antisemitism row. However, Labour officials warned the shadow cabinet last month that mounting legal action related to antisemitism could cost the party hundreds of thousands of pounds over the next year.
One Starmer loyalist dismissed McCluskey and Lavery’s criticisms. “They are fighting a battle over antisemitism they could not win when they were in charge and now they want Keir to make the same mistakes. It is a silly position to take and deeply insulting for many Jewish members,” they said.
McCluskey, 69, also said he intends to stay in charge at Unite until his tenure ends in 2022, amid growing speculation he could stand down early as well as electioneering from some of his close union allies.
Meanwhile the Unison leader, Dave Prentis, has announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the year, while Tim Roache stood down as general secretary of the GMB in April amid allegations of misconduct.
The “Big Three” unions, which represent more than 3 million workers, not only contribute most of Labour’s funds, but also sponsor MPs and influence votes on policy and party rules.
Although the top of the union movement is still dominated by middle-aged white men, there are female or BAME candidates standing for each position.
Speculation McCluskey may step down had increased after United Left, the faction which has dominated Unite, held a ballot last month and decided to back the union’s assistant general secretary, Steve Turner, to become the next leader. Sharon Graham, Unite’s organising director said to be separate from McCluskey’s inner circle, is also planning to stand.
After the GMB announced it had received an anonymous letter containing claims about Roache’s conduct, the union asked a QC to launch an independent investigation into allegations of wrongdoing. Roache vehemently denies the allegations.
Nominations for his successor will close next month. Rehana Azam, the union’s national secretary who has co-ordinated its response to the Covid 19 crisis, is expected to be a popular frontrunner. Gary Smith, the union’s secretary in Scotland, is also expected to stand.
The inquiry, conducted by Karon Monaghan QC, is expected to hang heavy over the election, following claims that other executives and staff were involved in inappropriate spending.
The union said: “The need for a full, transparent and independent investigation following a number of very serious allegations made by way of anonymous correspondence received by the union has been agreed.”
In a statement released in April, Roache said: “I have spent 40 years defending people based on evidence and the right to natural justice. This anonymous letter affords me neither.”
Candidates standing for the top job in Unison, where two-thirds of members are women, include Margaret Greer, who would become both the first female and the first black general secretary of the UK’s biggest union if she wins. Glasgow-born Christina McAnea, who is currently assistant general secretary, is also standing.
Two other BAME candidates are also standing. Roger McKenzie, an assistant general secretary who is on the left of the union, and Hugo Pierre, a Socialist party member. Nominations open on 10 August.
UK
Unite chief Len McCluskey fires warning shot over Labour anti-Semitism payout
HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER, CALLS THE TUNESunday 2 August 2020, 2:22am
BROTHER Len McCluskey has warned the Labour Party.Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
The chief of Labour’s biggest union backer said his organisation would “no doubt” review its financial support in the wake of the decision to offer payouts to whistleblowers who accused the party of failing to tackle anti-Semitism.
General secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey, used an interview with the Observer to issue a warning to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer after the party agreed to pay “substantial damages” to whistleblowers who contributed to a TV expose of its handling of anti-Semitism.
Mr McCluskey, an ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, said the payouts were “an abuse of members’ money”.
He told the paper: “A lot of it is Unite’s money and I’m already being asked all kinds of questions by my executive.
“It’s as though a huge sign has been put up outside the Labour party with ‘queue here with your writ and get your payment over there’.”
Under Mr Corbyn’s leadership, the party was dogged with allegations that it had failed to take action over members accused of promoting anti-Semitism.
Seven former employees from the party’s governance and legal unit, who were responsible for the investigation of allegations of misconduct by party members, sued Labour after it issued a press release describing them as having “personal and political axes to grind”.
The legal action followed the broadcast in July 2019 of a BBC Panorama programme titled Is Labour Anti-Semitic?
Jeremy Corbyn being sued after comments on Labour anti-Semitism damages settlement
The chief of Labour’s biggest union backer said his organisation would “no doubt” review its financial support in the wake of the decision to offer payouts to whistleblowers who accused the party of failing to tackle anti-Semitism.
General secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey, used an interview with the Observer to issue a warning to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer after the party agreed to pay “substantial damages” to whistleblowers who contributed to a TV expose of its handling of anti-Semitism.
Mr McCluskey, an ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, said the payouts were “an abuse of members’ money”.
He told the paper: “A lot of it is Unite’s money and I’m already being asked all kinds of questions by my executive.
“It’s as though a huge sign has been put up outside the Labour party with ‘queue here with your writ and get your payment over there’.”
Under Mr Corbyn’s leadership, the party was dogged with allegations that it had failed to take action over members accused of promoting anti-Semitism.
Seven former employees from the party’s governance and legal unit, who were responsible for the investigation of allegations of misconduct by party members, sued Labour after it issued a press release describing them as having “personal and political axes to grind”.
The legal action followed the broadcast in July 2019 of a BBC Panorama programme titled Is Labour Anti-Semitic?
Jeremy Corbyn being sued after comments on Labour anti-Semitism damages settlement
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took over the running of the party in AprilCredit: Joe Giddens/PA
The party has refused to disclose how much the settlement would end up costing, but the Telegraph reported that fees and damages were likely to amount to nearly £375,000.
Sir Keir’s predecessor Mr Corbyn called the decision to settle “disappointing” and claimed it was a “political decision, not a legal one”.
Mr Corybn said his team was advised while he was leader that the “party had a strong defence”.
Panorama reporter John Ware is taking legal action against the Islington North MP following the remarks.
Labour declined to comment on Mr McCluskey’s donation review threat, but Sir Keir’s spokesman previously said all three candidates in the final of the party’s leadership contest, which concluded in April, had agreed they wanted to see the case settled.
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The spokesman told reporters last month: “I think it is worth remembering that during the leadership contest, all three candidates – Rebecca (Long-Bailey), Keir and Lisa (Nandy) – said, and all pledged at the Jewish Labour Movement hustings, that they would seek to settle this issue and that also they believed the party had not taken the right approach at the time.”
In his interview, Mr McCluskey also warned Sir Keir over the direction of the party, suggesting it would “constitute a problem” if the former director of public prosecutions moved away from his leadership campaign pledges.
His position included keeping left-wing policies adopted during the Corbyn regime, such as higher taxes on the wealthy, abolishing tuition fees and public ownership of rail, mail, energy and water.
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The party has refused to disclose how much the settlement would end up costing, but the Telegraph reported that fees and damages were likely to amount to nearly £375,000.
Sir Keir’s predecessor Mr Corbyn called the decision to settle “disappointing” and claimed it was a “political decision, not a legal one”.
Mr Corybn said his team was advised while he was leader that the “party had a strong defence”.
Panorama reporter John Ware is taking legal action against the Islington North MP following the remarks.
Labour declined to comment on Mr McCluskey’s donation review threat, but Sir Keir’s spokesman previously said all three candidates in the final of the party’s leadership contest, which concluded in April, had agreed they wanted to see the case settled.
Rebecca Long-Bailey sacked after sharing article containing anti-Semitic conspiracy theory
The spokesman told reporters last month: “I think it is worth remembering that during the leadership contest, all three candidates – Rebecca (Long-Bailey), Keir and Lisa (Nandy) – said, and all pledged at the Jewish Labour Movement hustings, that they would seek to settle this issue and that also they believed the party had not taken the right approach at the time.”
In his interview, Mr McCluskey also warned Sir Keir over the direction of the party, suggesting it would “constitute a problem” if the former director of public prosecutions moved away from his leadership campaign pledges.
His position included keeping left-wing policies adopted during the Corbyn regime, such as higher taxes on the wealthy, abolishing tuition fees and public ownership of rail, mail, energy and water.
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Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was critical of the decision to pay damages to ex-staff.Credit: Hollie Adams/PA
Sir Keir has so far ruled out speculating what will be in the next election manifesto, but has regularly emphasised that the 2019 Labour platform was defeated at the polls in December.
Mr McCluskey said: “He has to recognise that the ship he is sailing, if it lists too much to the right, will go under.
“We’ll have to wait to see how the situation unfolds.
“Unite is financially a very powerful and strong union. We have a political fund that is the largest in the whole of Europe.
“So of course, my members would expect that we are influential in that respect.”
The 70-year-old also ruled out standing down as Unite leader before his term is due to come to an end in April 2022.
Sir Keir has so far ruled out speculating what will be in the next election manifesto, but has regularly emphasised that the 2019 Labour platform was defeated at the polls in December.
Mr McCluskey said: “He has to recognise that the ship he is sailing, if it lists too much to the right, will go under.
“We’ll have to wait to see how the situation unfolds.
“Unite is financially a very powerful and strong union. We have a political fund that is the largest in the whole of Europe.
“So of course, my members would expect that we are influential in that respect.”
The 70-year-old also ruled out standing down as Unite leader before his term is due to come to an end in April 2022.
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