Len McCluskey talks on stage during a live debate, at the Labour Live event at White Hart Lane Recreation Ground, north London, June 16, 2019
LABOUR could lose trade union support to a new party of the left, former union leader Len McCluskey has warned.
Mr McCluskey, general secretary of Unite the union from 2011 to 2021, told GB News that the new party called for by independent MPs Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn could prove attractive to disillusioned trade unionists.
“If this new party demonstrates it’s credible, then trade unions will consider their affiliations,” he said.
“If the new party proves credible, then I will join it, I will campaign for it and I will urge individuals and trade unions to give their support.
“Many thousands of union activists are demanding a credible and radical alternative to Labour,” he added, pointing to anger at the Starmer government’s direction.
Any union disaffiliation from Labour – and none seem imminent presently — would be a major blow to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s faltering leadership.
Mr McCluskey warned that “as ordinary people get disillusioned, they will turn to Reform UK, which is why there is a desperate need for another choice.”
Under Mr McCluskey, Unite was the strongest union supporter of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership.
Ms Sultana resigned from Labour last week and declared she was looking to launch a new party alongside Mr Corbyn.
Mr Corbyn, presently one of the Independent Alliance of pro-Gaza MPs elected last year, has been publicly calling for such an initiative in recent weeks and welcomed Ms Sultana’s move, without committing to joint leadership of the party.
It is believed that more than 80,000 people have already signed up in support of Ms Sultana’s call.
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