UNITE hit back yesterday against “malicious” and “deliberately misleading” criticisms of general secretary Len McCluskey from pro-European Union campaigners.

The letter, which was organised by anti-Brexit pressure group Another Europe Is Possible, accused the union’s general secretary of “entering into negotiations with Theresa May.”

However a Unite spokesperson called these “malicious and deliberately misleading.

“Len McCluskey is not negotiating a Brexit deal with Theresa May.

“He has met the Prime Minister once, as have several other trade union leaders, when he took the opportunity to raise a number of concerns for working people, including the danger of a no-deal Brexit and the need for a customs union in order to preserve jobs.”

The union reminded its several members who signed the petition that “posturing will not keep a single factory open.

“Unite activists for the most part know better than to believe media rumours about their union, and we urge Another Europe is Possible to take the same sceptical approach.”