The allegations over the election of Len McCluskey as general secretary of the Unite union centre on claims that almost 160,000 of those balloted were not members.
His rival for the job, Jerry Hicks, has complained that the election was unlawful because people who had left the union were included in the ballot. Hicks said dead former members were among those who were sent voting papers.
The Certification Office — the union regulator, which has the power to order McCluskey’s election to be rerun — confirmed this weekend that it has launched an investigation. An official complaint is expected to be submitted to Unite in the next few weeks.
There is some history here that might worry Len. A couple of years ago the UCATT GS election was spectacularly overturned by the certification officer. But that election had huge problems. And the result was close. And the allegations flying around were ... colourful. The losing candidate who overturned the result by complaining then found himself banned from running in the subsequent race and eventually thrown out of the union! I believe he appealed against all this but someone else is GS and I dont know what happened to his case (could still be running). The winning candidate in the cancelled election then had disciplinary issues of his own to deal with I seem to remember.
However I dont think anyone believes Jerry Hicks would have won the Unite election if these ballots had not been distributed. I suspect he may lose a few friends on the far left for taking this case forward. If a re-run is ordered (big if but remember those BA strike ballots) Len would beat Jerry. But would recent events prompt someone to challenge him? That in turn could even let Jerry in through the middle which would be hilarious. But also ghastly.
Two questions. Was the timing of this Unite re-election contest unusual, and should the low turnout in this election worry us even more now these ballot discrepancies have been called into question?
The allegations over the election of Len McCluskey as general secretary of the Unite union centre on claims that almost 160,000 of those balloted were not members.
His rival for the job, Jerry Hicks, has complained that the election was unlawful because people who had left the union were included in the ballot. Hicks said dead former members were among those who were sent voting papers.
The Certification Office — the union regulator, which has the power to order McCluskey’s election to be rerun — confirmed this weekend that it has launched an investigation. An official complaint is expected to be submitted to Unite in the next few weeks.
There is some history here that might worry Len. A couple of years ago the UCATT GS election was spectacularly overturned by the certification officer. But that election had huge problems. And the result was close. And the allegations flying around were ... colourful. The losing candidate who overturned the result by complaining then found himself banned from running in the subsequent race and eventually thrown out of the union! I believe he appealed against all this but someone else is GS and I dont know what happened to his case (could still be running). The winning candidate in the cancelled election then had disciplinary issues of his own to deal with I seem to remember.
However I dont think anyone believes Jerry Hicks would have won the Unite election if these ballots had not been distributed. I suspect he may lose a few friends on the far left for taking this case forward. If a re-run is ordered (big if but remember those BA strike ballots) Len would beat Jerry. But would recent events prompt someone to challenge him? That in turn could even let Jerry in through the middle which would be hilarious. But also ghastly.
Tell that to IDS as a former Conservative Leader and prospective Prime Minister who has now forged a new front bench career in his chosen field of welfare dependency and poverty.....
Not much in the news today and the YouGov poll adds to the suspicion that Labour's recent surgette (and the overall lead) is soft - we might get ICM this week to confirm. Enjoy the sunshine all!
From what you have seen or heard about the controversy over Labour's candidate selection in Falkirk, do you think Ed Miliband has handled the issue well or badly?
Well: 19 Badly: 36 Not sure: 45
And do you think the events in Falkirk have or have not damaged the Labour party?
Damaged: 39 Not damaged: 23 DK: 37
Some people have suggested that the law should be changed so that a union can only go on strike if over 50% of its members back the strike, rather than 50% of those voting. Would you support or oppose this change?
Support: 55 Oppose: 21
Would you support or oppose a ban on trade unions involved in a dispute protesting outside the private homes of company directors?
The Niqab is a veil used to cover the face except the eyes, worn by some Muslim women so they have can dress modestly in front of men who are not their close relatives. Would you support or oppose a ban on wearing the niqab in Britain?
Support:63 Oppose:24
NB: LDs are only party to oppose a ban
Current laws allow the government to impose "Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures" (Tpims) on people who they suspect pose a serious terrorist threat, but who they do not have evidence to prosecute. Tpims can restrict where suspects are allowed to go, require electronic tagging and a curfew and restrict internet and phone use. They do not require a trial and there are only limited rights of appeal. Do you think the government should or should not have these powers?
Should:69 Should not:16
Until 2011 the government cound impose "control orders" on terrorist suspects. These were similar to the "Tpims" that replaced them, but had more extensive powers, including th ability to relocate suspects to a different part of the country, and greater powers to ban internet or phone use and who suspects could communicate with. Do you believe the government should reintroduce control orders?
Should: 66 Should not: 17
Thinking about protecting Britain's national security and protecting the human rights of individual people who may be suspected of terrorist offences, which of the following best reflects your view?
Too much consideration is paid to the human rights of terrorist suspects, and not enough to ensuring national security: 68%
Not much in the news today and the YouGov poll adds to the suspicion that Labour's recent surgette (and the overall lead) is soft - we might get ICM this week to confirm. Enjoy the sunshine all!
"JUDGE not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
Comments
However I dont think anyone believes Jerry Hicks would have won the Unite election if these ballots had not been distributed. I suspect he may lose a few friends on the far left for taking this case forward. If a re-run is ordered (big if but remember those BA strike ballots) Len would beat Jerry. But would recent events prompt someone to challenge him? That in turn could even let Jerry in through the middle which would be hilarious. But also ghastly.
Fun and games.
From what you have seen or heard about the controversy over Labour's candidate selection in Falkirk, do you think Ed Miliband has handled the issue well or badly?
Well: 19
Badly: 36
Not sure: 45
And do you think the events in Falkirk have or have not damaged the Labour party?
Damaged: 39
Not damaged: 23
DK: 37
Some people have suggested that the law should be changed so that a union can only go on strike if over 50% of its members back the strike, rather than 50% of those voting. Would you support or oppose this change?
Support: 55
Oppose: 21
Would you support or oppose a ban on trade unions involved in a dispute protesting outside the private homes of company directors?
Support:54
Oppose: 24
The Niqab is a veil used to cover the face except the eyes, worn by some Muslim women so they have can dress modestly in front of men who are not their close relatives. Would you support or oppose a ban on wearing the niqab in Britain?
Support:63
Oppose:24
NB: LDs are only party to oppose a ban
Current laws allow the government to impose "Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures" (Tpims) on people who they suspect pose a serious terrorist threat, but who they do not have evidence to prosecute. Tpims can restrict where suspects are allowed to go, require electronic tagging and a curfew and restrict internet and phone use. They do not require a trial and there are only limited rights of appeal. Do you think the government should or should not have these powers?
Should:69
Should not:16
Until 2011 the government cound impose "control orders" on terrorist suspects. These were similar to the "Tpims" that replaced them, but had more extensive powers, including th ability to relocate suspects to a different part of the country, and greater powers to ban internet
or phone use and who suspects could communicate with.
Do you believe the government should reintroduce control orders?
Should: 66
Should not: 17
Thinking about protecting Britain's national security and protecting the human rights of individual people who may be suspected of terrorist offences, which of the following best reflects your view?
Too much consideration is paid to the human rights of terrorist suspects, and not enough to ensuring national security: 68%
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."