Unite and Labour
Len McCluskey, leader of the Unite general union, has hinted that he may reduce the union’s donations to the Labour Party further than the 10% announced last month. The October meeting of Unite’s national executive voted, reportedly by 25 votes to 23, to reduce the number of members it affiliates to the Party by 50,000.
Announcing the union’s decision, which will see funding switch to other parts of the labour movement, McCluskey said: “Unite is and will remain the biggest affiliate to the Labour party … But we also want to use our political funding to support and nurture the newer voices in our movement.”
It’s thought that part of the Unite leadership is concerned about the party’s direction since Keir Starmer replaced Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.