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Unite chief: union has been vindicated over Falkirk vote-rigging claims Unite chief: union has been vindicated over Falkirk vote-rigging claims
(10 days later)
The Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, has said he is delighted the union has been "vindicated" over Falkirk vote-rigging allegations, but said he was not seeking an apology from Ed Miliband for launching the inquiry.The Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, has said he is delighted the union has been "vindicated" over Falkirk vote-rigging allegations, but said he was not seeking an apology from Ed Miliband for launching the inquiry.
The allegations were abandoned late on Friday after evidence to the inquiry was withdrawn by two witnesses.The allegations were abandoned late on Friday after evidence to the inquiry was withdrawn by two witnesses.
One of the remaining candidates for the seat, Linda Gow, told the Sunday Herald she was alarmed by this development.One of the remaining candidates for the seat, Linda Gow, told the Sunday Herald she was alarmed by this development.
Gow said: "I have real concerns about the way the original claims were withdrawn. Why would people make claims and then suddenly withdraw them? It doesn't make sense. There are serious questions to answer about this matter."Gow said: "I have real concerns about the way the original claims were withdrawn. Why would people make claims and then suddenly withdraw them? It doesn't make sense. There are serious questions to answer about this matter."
She added: "It is disappointing nobody has asked why these people have changed their minds. We should see what is in the original report."She added: "It is disappointing nobody has asked why these people have changed their minds. We should see what is in the original report."
Labour decided on Friday to drop charges against two senior figures in Unite – the prospective MP Karie Murphy and constituency party chairman Stevie Deans – who had been accused of trying to rig the Falkirk parliamentary selection by recruiting supporters without their knowledge. The two central affidavits making this accusation were withdrawn, with some Labour officials claiming they were threatened into withdrawing their statements.Labour decided on Friday to drop charges against two senior figures in Unite – the prospective MP Karie Murphy and constituency party chairman Stevie Deans – who had been accused of trying to rig the Falkirk parliamentary selection by recruiting supporters without their knowledge. The two central affidavits making this accusation were withdrawn, with some Labour officials claiming they were threatened into withdrawing their statements.
Unite's favoured candidate for the seat, Murphy, a former office worker for Tom Watson, the party chairman, has been reinstated after being suspended but she will not stand for the seat.Unite's favoured candidate for the seat, Murphy, a former office worker for Tom Watson, the party chairman, has been reinstated after being suspended but she will not stand for the seat.
The timing of the Labour decision, the week before the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has raised questions over whether the investigation was abandoned for political or evidential reasons. Miliband is due to speak at the TUC on Tuesday.The timing of the Labour decision, the week before the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has raised questions over whether the investigation was abandoned for political or evidential reasons. Miliband is due to speak at the TUC on Tuesday.
McCluskey told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: "Right along, we said that Unite had done nothing wrong and I'm pleased now that the Labour party have actually indicated that no wrongdoing took place."McCluskey told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: "Right along, we said that Unite had done nothing wrong and I'm pleased now that the Labour party have actually indicated that no wrongdoing took place."
He said it was "time for us to move on from Falkirk and make sure that we are involved in uniting the party so that we can move forward".He said it was "time for us to move on from Falkirk and make sure that we are involved in uniting the party so that we can move forward".
Unite claims the evidence against the two officials was always fragile. But it was striking that Labour refused to apologise for launching the investigation and denied there had been a lack of evidence.Unite claims the evidence against the two officials was always fragile. But it was striking that Labour refused to apologise for launching the investigation and denied there had been a lack of evidence.
The Falkirk inquiry prompted Miliband to launch sweeping plans to reform the relationship between Labour and unions, including plans for union members to be affiliated to the party individually rather than collectively. He says he will go ahead with the plans at a spring conference despite the fact that the immediate cause of the reforms, the Falkirk row, has apparently evaporated.The Falkirk inquiry prompted Miliband to launch sweeping plans to reform the relationship between Labour and unions, including plans for union members to be affiliated to the party individually rather than collectively. He says he will go ahead with the plans at a spring conference despite the fact that the immediate cause of the reforms, the Falkirk row, has apparently evaporated.
The GMB union has already threatened to withdraw £1m annual funding to the party as a result of the proposed reforms. The union's general secretary, Paul Kenny, said: "I don't know where this idea came from. They must have had a bad night out because they had not thought it through."The GMB union has already threatened to withdraw £1m annual funding to the party as a result of the proposed reforms. The union's general secretary, Paul Kenny, said: "I don't know where this idea came from. They must have had a bad night out because they had not thought it through."
Billy Hayes, the Communication Workers Union general secretary, said the Labour constitutional reforms were "a distraction and not exciting the people they represent".Billy Hayes, the Communication Workers Union general secretary, said the Labour constitutional reforms were "a distraction and not exciting the people they represent".
The party began seeking a candidate for the Falkirk seat when the sitting MP, Eric Joyce, quit the Labour party and announced he would step down at the 2015 general election after he was convicted of assault at a Commons bar.The party began seeking a candidate for the Falkirk seat when the sitting MP, Eric Joyce, quit the Labour party and announced he would step down at the 2015 general election after he was convicted of assault at a Commons bar.
McCluskey, speaking in Bournemouth before the TUC, said he was not seeking an apology from anyone.McCluskey, speaking in Bournemouth before the TUC, said he was not seeking an apology from anyone.
He said his union had been subject to a "deluge of media hysteria especially from the rightwing press who accused us of everything. They made some false allegations and they got it wrong."He said his union had been subject to a "deluge of media hysteria especially from the rightwing press who accused us of everything. They made some false allegations and they got it wrong."
Peter Watt, Labour's former general secretary, said: "This is a crisis of Miliband's own making. The party is now facing an unprecedented funding crisis and serious questions remain over what really happened in Falkirk. So far from being cowed, Unite appears emboldened."Peter Watt, Labour's former general secretary, said: "This is a crisis of Miliband's own making. The party is now facing an unprecedented funding crisis and serious questions remain over what really happened in Falkirk. So far from being cowed, Unite appears emboldened."
Allegations have emerged that some of those who made claims may have withdrawn their statements only after they were visited at home by Unite representatives who "prevailed upon them" to back down. Among those who withdrew their complaints were Michael and Lorraine Kane, who are related to Deans.Allegations have emerged that some of those who made claims may have withdrawn their statements only after they were visited at home by Unite representatives who "prevailed upon them" to back down. Among those who withdrew their complaints were Michael and Lorraine Kane, who are related to Deans.
Joyce, the current MP for Falkirk, claimed the Kanes were told that Deans risked losing his job at the nearby Grangemouth oil refinery if they did not withdraw their statements. He said: "Essentially that's why they withdrew and without that the Labour party felt it couldn't finger Unite. In reality the Labour party could have said: 'We're not going to believe these withdrawals,' but obviously the party has chosen to avoid a face-off with Unite." The Kanes declined to comment.Joyce, the current MP for Falkirk, claimed the Kanes were told that Deans risked losing his job at the nearby Grangemouth oil refinery if they did not withdraw their statements. He said: "Essentially that's why they withdrew and without that the Labour party felt it couldn't finger Unite. In reality the Labour party could have said: 'We're not going to believe these withdrawals,' but obviously the party has chosen to avoid a face-off with Unite." The Kanes declined to comment.
On his blog Joyce wrote: "There are still some outstanding issues to be cleared up, of course. Were party rules breached by the signing up of people who appeared not to be present at the addresses given for them? Were some people signed up to Unite and the Labour party at the same time, under the union scheme, also potentially in breach of party rules? Were complainants visited by Unite representatives or lawyers in order to persuade them to change their testimony? Or were these all imaginary things that never happened at all?On his blog Joyce wrote: "There are still some outstanding issues to be cleared up, of course. Were party rules breached by the signing up of people who appeared not to be present at the addresses given for them? Were some people signed up to Unite and the Labour party at the same time, under the union scheme, also potentially in breach of party rules? Were complainants visited by Unite representatives or lawyers in order to persuade them to change their testimony? Or were these all imaginary things that never happened at all?
"These questions, however, are largely irrelevant now.""These questions, however, are largely irrelevant now."
The Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, said: "It's little wonder Len McCluskey's happy. Despite promising to tackle Unite's candidate-selection rigging, Ed Miliband has caved in and cleared Unite of any wrongdoing in a whitewash. And Ed Miliband's plan to put the sole decision over whether Unite donates to Labour in Len McCluskey's hands will give the union baron even more influence over Labour's policy, candidates and leader.The Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, said: "It's little wonder Len McCluskey's happy. Despite promising to tackle Unite's candidate-selection rigging, Ed Miliband has caved in and cleared Unite of any wrongdoing in a whitewash. And Ed Miliband's plan to put the sole decision over whether Unite donates to Labour in Len McCluskey's hands will give the union baron even more influence over Labour's policy, candidates and leader.
"Nothing has changed. It's the same old Labour with the unions buying their policies, buying their candidates and picking their leader. If Ed Miliband can't stand up to Len McCluskey, he would be too weak to stand up for hardworking people.""Nothing has changed. It's the same old Labour with the unions buying their policies, buying their candidates and picking their leader. If Ed Miliband can't stand up to Len McCluskey, he would be too weak to stand up for hardworking people."
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