Thursday 26 August 2021

BAD DAY FOR RED LEN

Len McCluskey and Sharon Graham

The Unite union leadership contest hasn't quite gone according to plan for outgoing general secretary Len McCluskey.  Red Len's anointed successor was supposed to be Steve Turner, but the surprise victor turned out to be the outsider Sharon Graham.

The result is likely to have been greeted with relief from Keir Starmer.  Graham is thought to have little interest in internal Labour politics and would mark a significant departure from the troublesome Corbynista McCluskey.  The only moderate pro-Starmer candidate in the election - Gerard Coyne - finished third.

Both Starmer and Corbyn congratulated Graham on her victory.



The result was as follows.

Sharon Graham 46,696
Steve Turner 41,833
Gerard Coyne 35,334

Turnout was less than nine per cent, suggesting that rank and file members have little interest in their general secretary.