Would-be Unite boss Gerard Coyne insists workers want end to free movement as he challenges ‘Red Len’ McCluskey for leadership
Coyne is set to insist 'Brexit means exit' and insist on border controls as the gloves come off in the trade union leadership battle
RED Len McCluskey’s Unite rival will declare “Brexit means exit” and Britain must regain control of its borders in a “gloves off” declaration of war tomorrow.
Gerard Coyne – who is challenging Red Len for the £140,000 top job – will say not leaving the single market is a betrayal of 17m Brexit voters.
In a speech to Unite members in Birmingham he will set out his stall demanding Theresa May refuse to bend over immigration.
He will say: “There is one principle on which the UK government should not even begin to negotiate. That is over the question of control of our borders.
“Theresa May and other ministers should not wait until Article 50 has been triggered to set out a negotiating position on free movement of labour.
“They should be saying now, without equivocation, that the issue is non-negotiable. There can be no compromise on the principle of taking back control of our borders.
“My many conversations with Unite members leave me in no doubt that those who voted for Brexit expect that promise of an end to uncontrolled immigration from the EU to be kept, and will feel betrayed if it is not.”
He will add that for many Brits in the Labour market who face job insecurity, the impact of 2.9m EU nationals working in the UK has added to their pressures.
It came as Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer insisted freedom of movement rules must change.
His comments placed him at loggerheads with Jeremy Corbyn and Labour’s immigration spokesperson, Diane Abbott, who have all resisted calls to curb free movement.