Unite election under way

The election is under way for the general secretary of the country’s largest union, the 1.5 million-member general union Unite. Ballot papers are out, and voting takes place until 19 November.

Four candidates are standing for this giant labour movement post: assistant general secretaries Les Bayliss, Gail Cartmail and Len McCluskey and rank and file activist Jerry Hicks.

The result is due to be announced on 24 November and the winning candidate will become general secretary designate until December 2011.