Sturgeon embraces Unite chief McCluskey
NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday embraced firebrand union baron Len McCluskey as she promised ‘friendship and solidarity’ to Unite.
The First Minister adopted hard-Left rhetoric as she attracted applause and cheers from delegates at the union’s Scottish conference.
In return, Mr McCluskey – who leads the union which bankrolls the Labour Party – promised to be a ‘friend’ to the SNP, but not an ‘uncritical’ one.
He also threw his support behind Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, and claimed the party is ‘turning the corner’ under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
Also on the final day of Unite’s conference in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire:
Miss Sturgeon warned David Cameron she will ‘never willingly cooperate’ with Tory plans to curb the powers of trade unions.
Mr McCluskey urged the SNP leader to ditch the ongoing council tax freeze.
Delegates appeared split on Trident renewal, with slightly more than half the audience applauding Miss Sturgeon when she outlined her opposition to the nuclear weapons system.
Unite is Labour’s biggest donor, but Left-wing boss Mr McCluskey’s relationship with the Scottish Labour Party is strained following a public bust-up with former Blairite leader Jim Murphy.
The SNP is keen to win over the unions, and has made a series of concessions in government, including refusing to crack down on the number of taxpayer-funded posts for union officials.
Miss Sturgeon, who met privately with Mr McCluskey for 30 minutes after her speech and embraced him when leaving the stage, said: ‘We value highly the contribution not just that this trade union makes, but the contribution that the trade union movement as a whole makes.
‘I warmly welcome the offer to be a critical friend and in return I’m here today holding out the hand of friendship and solidarity to you.’
In his earlier keynote speech, Mr McCluskey said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon and her team have reached out to trade unions, and we would be letting our members down if we responded anything other than enthusiastically.’