Unite’s leader backs Leonard for Labour

The leader of the UK’S largest union has backed left-wing MSP Richard Leonard to be the new leader of Scottish Labour – and said his leadership could help Labour back to power across the UK.

Len Mccluskey, the general secretary of the Unite trade union, said if Mr Leonard was voted in to succeed Kezia Dugdale, Labour north of the Border would “build on the foundation laid by Jeremy Corbyn”.

Mr Leonard is competing for the job against the more moderate MSP Anas Sarwar, who is Labour’s Holyrood health spokesman, with voting in the contest now under way.

At the Unite Scottish policy conference in Aviemore, Mr Mccluksey said: “Scottish Labour needs a leader who speaks for workers. We have one in Richard Leonard.”

He said that this time last year “Labour in Scotland had fallen off the electoral perch” but said the party’s success in the June general election, winning seats back from the SNP to return seven MPS to West- 0 Len Mccluskey: ‘A lot to do to rebuild from wipe-out’ minster, had helped turn things round. He stressed there was still “a lot to do to rebuildfromthe2015wipeout” when Scottish Labour lost 40 MPS to Nicola Sturgeon’s party

A spokesman for the Anas Sarwar campaign said: “We know that many ordinarymembersofunite and other trade unions are backing us because we’re running a positive campaign focused on radical ideas. Anas is standing in this contest as the only candidate who has never, and will never, leave workers behind by voting against the Labour Party and with the Tories on Brexit.”