Len McCluskey, photo Paul Mattsson

Len McCluskey, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The ballot in the Unite union general secretary and executive elections closes on 19 April with the Blairite challenger to Len McCluskey, Gerard Coyne, continuing to use the hated Sun newspaper to attack McCLuskey and Jeremy Corbyn.

As the Socialist Party has consistently argued, there needs to be a united front behind Len McCluskey against Coyne because his challenge represents another attempt of the Labour right to remove Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader and any prospect of an anti-austerity Labour Party.

A Coyne leadership would also represent a retreat from the more fighting stance of the union under Len McCluskey’s leadership.

Unite has become more militant and more responsive to rank-and-file pressure. Len has ended the practice of repudiating unofficial action, which has given confidence for unofficial walkouts, for example on Crossrail. He has consistently supported and resourced workplace battles against exploitative employers.

There are also four Socialist Party members on the United Left slate in the executive elections – Suzanne Muna (London and Eastern), Jamie Cocozza (Scotland), Jimmy Tyson (Construction) and Kevin Bennett (GEMS).