Unite hints at backing SNP at Holyrood

LABOUR’S biggest trade union backer could support SNP candidates for the first time in a hammer blow to Jim Murphy’s election hopes.

Unite sources have claimed the union is ‘seriously considering’ weakening its historic ties with Labour ahead of the 2016 Holyrood election.

The possible move comes after militant leader ‘Red’ Len McCluskey warned that Mr Murphy’s victory in the Scottish Labour leadership contest would be a ‘political death sentence’ for the party.

Unite bosses are thought to still be furious following a feud in Falkirk, where they

‘Labour has betrayed hard-working people’

were accused of vote-rigging in an attempt to put a Left-wing candidate in place.

Ultimately, Unite – which hands over millions of pounds to Labour every year – could help Nicola Sturgeon return to power and almost certainly force Blairite Mr Murphy to stand down if he fails to become First Minister.

Ahead of last year’s referendum, Mr McCluskey praised Alex Salmond’s ‘seductive’ arguments for independence and the union refused to back Labour’s pro-UK stance, opting to remain neutral.

Labour insiders played down the prospect of Unite backing SNP candidates, as it would need approval from the union at a UK-level, but a Unite source claimed the idea was being ‘ seriously considered’. ‘ A great number of our members in Scotland voted for independence and now support the SNP,’ the insider added.

‘Given this shift, it would be only right that we look at backing SNP candidates.’

Any move will not take place ahead of May’s UK General Election because Unite is supporting Labour.

A spokesman for the union insisted: ‘We’re affiliated to Labour. For us to back candidates from any other party, it would require a rule change and our next rules conference, which deals with these matters, is after the General Election.’

Nationalist backbench MSP Christina McKelvie said: ‘It is hardly surprising if the trade unions are ready to abandon the Labour Party, as Labour has betrayed hard-working people for too long.’

A Scottish Labour Party spokesman claimed: ‘ This is absolute rubbish and won’t happen. Unite is a UK-wide union affiliated only to the Labour Party. That position will remain.’

Unite’s relationship with Scottish Labour suffered when the selection to represent the party in Falkirk at this year’s General Election became mired in controversy.

Sitting MP Eric Joyce resigned from the Labour Party in 2012 after he was arrested over a late-night Commons brawl.

Constituency chairman and Unite convener Stephen Deans, and his union’s preferred candidate Karie Murphy, were suspended amid vote-rigging allegations.

Mr Deans was accused of signing up local people to the party and promising that Unite would pay their membership fees. Mr Deans and Miss Murphy were cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated by the party.