BATTLE FOR UNITE
Candidates gear up for fight as McCluskey is rumoured to quit
A FOSTER mum who has taken in more than 150 children has received her MBE from the Queen and dedicated it to the nation’s army of carers.
Andy Hider was honoured at Buckingham Palace just weeks after the Sunday Mirror told how she has devoted 35 years of her life to giving kids a home.
The 74-year-old said she was “thrilled” to receive the MBE.
But she insisted: “I’m no more special than any of the other people who look after foster children.
“I’m in absolute awe of anyone who fosters children and I dedicate this award to all of them.
“It’s a privilege to share in the lives of these children and I’m honoured to have been part of their journeys.”
Andy, who works for the independent agency Amicus Foster Care, was inspired to start fostering after seeing an advert in her local library.
Then a single mum of three young boys, she said she only saw it as a “short-term way to make ends meet” but found the experience so rewarding that it changed her life forever.
Andy, who was joined at the investiture ceremony by sons Adam, 52, Ben, 48, and George, 41, said fostering was “better than winning the lottery”.
UNION Unite has been forced to deny rumours its General Secretary Len McCluskey is poised to stand down.
The response comes after Sharon Graham revealed to supporters she is readying a bid to become the first female chief of Britain’s second biggest union.
There are rumblings that stalwarts Howard Beckett and Steve Turner have been preparing for a two-horse race. Ms Graham is said to want to change the “jobs for the boys” culture at Unite, dogged by ties to Jeremy Corbyn.
It has donated £200,000 to bolster Rebecca Long-Bailey’s bid to succeed him as leader.
Mr McCluskey has rounded on Mr Corbyn’s critics despite his
General Election disaster and denies Ms Long-Bailey is a continuity candidate.
Unite holds a strong influence over Labour, sitting on its National Executive Committee.
Mr McCluskey was re-elected as General Secretary in 2017.
A source said: “It does seem all the kinds of manoeuvres are being made to find a successor, despite what he’s said publicly.”
Unite said there was no truth in rumours that Mr McCluskey would soon stand down. alan.selby@ mirror.co.uk