Why did a conference centre built with the money of Unite members cost £92million when it was supposed to cost £7million? Vote Coyne to find out.

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There is an important trade union election going on right now. When was the last time that was said?

The battle is on to succeed Len McCluskey as general secretary of Unite which has 1.3million members in transport, logistics, construction and public services.

McCluskey is a hard left activist who has used the fact the union is Labour’s biggest donor to sway the party’s policies. As you might expect he liked Corbyn but not Starmer.

Anyway he’s going (thank God for that) and the fight is between the moderate Gerard Coyne and a couple of lefties, Sharon Graham and Steve Turner.

Normally such a punch-up would go unreported. Not true this time because The Times newspaper has shown an interest.
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They are endorsing Mr Coyne because he wants an investigation into how members’ money was spent to build a conference centre and hotel in Birmingham.

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​The Times revealed earlier this that a firm owned by an associate of Mr McCluskey had been paid £95million for the project when initially it was supposed to cost £7million.

The Liverpool-based Flanagan Group which received the money as prime contractors is under criminal investigation in an un-related corruption inquiry of council-owned land in Merseyside.

There is no suggestion that McCluskey or the union committed a crime but as The Times says members deserve a full explanation.

On that basis I agree with the Times. Go out and vote for Coyne. McCluskey and his mates are dinosours.
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