Unite leadership hopeful pulls out in bid to find unity left-wing candidate to replace McCluskey
A leadership hopeful for one of Labour’s biggest union backers has pulled out of the race in a bid to find a unity left-wing candidate.
Howard Beckett, who had once been viewed as the heir apparent to Len McCluskey as Unite’s general secretary, is no longer seeking to lead the trade union.
Instead, Mr Beckett – who has recently stepped up his criticism of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – will now support Steve Turner in the race to replace Mr McCluskey.
Len McCluskey is standing down after 10 years at the head of Unite
It follows recent talks between Mr Beckett, Mr Turner and a third left-wing candidate, Sharon Graham, over finding a single candidate between them to take on a fourth leadership rival, Gerard Coyne.
Among the union’s left-wing, there had been concerns that a split among different candidates within their faction could hand victory to Mr Coyne, who is viewed as coming from the union’s right.
If elected, Mr Coyne has promised to bring “real change” to Unite and order an independent review of the union’s controversial £98m spend on a Birmingham hotel and conference centre.
Sources in Mr Beckett’s camp told Sky News that Ms Graham refused to stand aside.
A spokesperson for Ms Graham said: “100% Sharon Graham is standing. She has great support in the union’s industrial base and across the union in Ireland Scotland and Wales.
“She is the workers’ candidate and believes she has support in depth to carry the day.”
In a joint statement, Mr Beckett and Mr Turner said: “Throughout this contest we have both been committed to one thing above all – developing further the role our union has played since its foundation as a fighting back, progressive, campaigning force for working people throughout Britain and Ireland.
“It is clear that developing that unique role requires the unity of the left in our union, and of all these representatives and members in the workplaces and beyond who have made Unite a union to be proud of.”
Mr Beckett, who is currently a Unite assistant general secretary, was recently suspended from the Labour Party after suggesting Home Secretary Priti Patel and not refugees should be “deported”.
He had also been criticised after both Unite and a blogger lost a £1.3m battle over legal costs relating to a libel case won by a former MP.
Mr McCluskey, who was an ally of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is standing down after more than 10 years in the role.
Unite are one of Labour’s largest donors.
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has dodged calls from her predecessor Anneliese Dodds for a wealth tax to be considered ahead of this autumn’s budget.
When Sir Keir Starmer became Labour leader in 2020, Ms Dodds was his first pick for shadow chancellor. However, she did not last long and was replaced by Ms Reeves, who then got the government job after last year’s election win.
Speaking to the Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Ms Dodds said she had examined wealth taxes when she was briefly in the shadow chancellor job and how one could be implemented.
She said: “I would hope the Treasury is considering that kind of evidence, as well as other changes that have been put forward.”
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‘Rachel Reeves would hate what you just said’
Asked today if about Ms Dodds’ intervention, Ms Reeves said: “Decisions around tax are decisions that are made at a budget and we’ll make those decisions in the appropriate way, but the number-one priority of this government is to grow the economy.
“And that means bringing more investment into Britain, creating more good jobs paying decent wages here in Britain.
Listen here to hear Ms Dodds’ full comments:
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“We’ve got to get the balance right on taxation because we want that investment, we want those jobs to come here.
“That’s why we’re reforming the planning system, secured three trade deals in the first year of this Labour government, cutting back on unnecessary regulation, and reforming our pension system to unlock money for businesses to be able to invest here in the UK.”
Read more:
2021: Dodds demoted, Reeves promoted
Dodds resigns from govt over aid cut
What is a wealth tax?
The government’s financial position is stretched ahead of the next budget, due at the end of autumn.
Ms Reeves has committed herself to not changing her fiscal rules, leaving little wiggle room to avoid tax rises or spending cuts.
This is due to the government’s inability to save money through policies like welfare reform, which were gutted due to a rebellion of backbench Labour MPs.
Last week, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds branded the suggestion of a wealth tax “daft” – but he has less influence over the writing of the budget than the chancellor.
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Meanwhile, reports from the Daily Telegraph suggested that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner backed increasing taxes, including reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance and a higher corporation tax level for banks.
Ms Dodds also wants to see those considered.
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