Jeremy Corbyn-backer ‘Red’ Len McCluskey set to be challenged by Unite official Gerard Coyne for control of the union
Coyne poised to slam ‘Red Len’ for 'putting the needs of the Labour leader ahead of Unite’s members', sources claim
A SENIOR Unite official was poised to challenge Jeremy Corbyn-backer Len McCluskey for control of Britain’s biggest union.
Midlands regional secretary Gerard Coyne was locked in meetings ahead of an announcement as early as Wednesday.
Sources claim he will slam ‘Red Len’ for putting the needs of the arch-leftie Labour leader ahead of Unite’s own members.
It came as ‘Red’ Len sparked a bid to tighten his grip on Unite by triggering a snap leadership contest.
Mr McCluskey resigned but immediately said he would be standing in the general secretary election that will now have to take place in April 2017.
He had been expected to stand down when his current term of office ends in 2018 but he wants to stay in the post until at least the 2020 General Election.
In a statement he said: “I intend to submit my record to the vote of Unite members.”
Unite said he the resignation would only take effect from 28 April – the date when elections for general secretary finish, and he would remain on his full £140,000 a year salary until then.
Outraged rivals warned this meant they could face the sack if they dared to stand against him.
Labour MPs desperate to oust Mr Corbyn see the Unite election as their last chance of doing so in the current Parliament.
They believe that if Mr McCluskey is defeated, Mr Corbyn will be far more vulnerable given the union baron’s strident support for the pacifist.
Earlier this summer the Unite chief ripped into ‘moderate’ MPs plotting a coup – calling them “cowardly, squalid and selfish”.
One Labour insider said: “Len needs to worry less about Caracas (in Venezuela) and more about Coventry.”
Red Len’s outright support for Mr Corbyn has upset Unite members desperate for the Government to renew the Trident nuclear system for the jobs that will come with the work.
In a statement, Len McCluskey said: “This will be an election in which Unite will be under unprecedented scrutiny particularly from our enemies.”