Unite leadership election underway

Nominations will close on 15 February in the snap election for general secretary called by the country’s largest union, Unite (see Labour Research, January 2013, page 7).

Apart from the current incumbent, Len McCluskey, one other candidate, left winger Jerry Hicks, has indicated his interest in standing.

McCluskey has obtained the support of UniteNow! — a broad-based group of activists within the union — despite the group’s misgivings about the early ballot.

The election, not due under rule until 2015, was brought forward by the national executive at the end of last year, in part to avoid a clash with the general parliamentary elections also due in that year.

UniteNow!, despite its unease at the cost of such an early election, says that now the decision has been made, “the interests of our members will be best served through unity, stability and continuity”.

It is therefore calling on branches and workplaces to nominate and vote for McCluskey.

Meanwhile, Hicks argues that the original timing of the union vote, just before the general election — would have presented a “golden opportunity” to put pressure on the Labour Party to respond better to its largest donor.

It said the union had now thrown away the “best possible chance to reverse the ‘one-way’ relationship” with the party.