Video
Len McCluskey says Jeremy Corbyn ‘changed the face of British politics forever’
General Secretary of Unite Len McCluskey. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA. - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Len McCluskey has claimed that Jeremy Corbyn 'changed the face of British politics forever', as his Unite union prepared to debate who it would back in the Labour leadership contest.
McCluskey, the general secretary and an ally of the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, told reporters before a meeting of the union's executive: "What Jeremy did four years ago, he probably changed British politics forever, and I think he probably changed the Labour Party."
He continued: "We now have a clear alternative to a Conservative austerity government, a government that actually governs for the rich, as opposed to the rest of the people.
"What Jeremy Corbyn has done with Labour, and that's his legacy, is create this alternative. And I think that's the right thing to do, people have a clear choice".
MORE: Sir Keir Starmer forced to pause Labour leadership campaign
It suggests that McCluskey is likely to give a nod to the 'continuity candidate' in the leadership race in the form of Rebecca Long-Bailey.
You may also want to watch:
Each of the candidates will be given a 25 minute grilling at the meeting of the executive, with the exception of Keir Starmer who will send a replacement, before the union gives its verdict on who it is backing at around 6pm this evening.
Most Read
- 1 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 2 Comedian wins praise after shaming No 10 during Dancing on Ice appearance
- 3 Television drama to focus on Boris Johnson's first year in Downing Street
- 4 Boris Johnson blames seafood companies for post-Brexit sales slump
- 5 Progressive alliance could see Labour win 351 seats at next election, new analysis reveals
- 6 Boris Johnson claims Labour supporters using Universal Credit vote to incite hatred
- 7 Michael Gove among 14 Tory MPs revealed to have joined banned Parler app
- 8 Priti Patel fails to appear in Commons to answer questions on missing police records
- 9 UK has highest Covid-19 death rate in world
- 10 Dominic Raab 'not convinced' collapse of fishing businesses would be result of Brexit deal
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
