McCluskey's former love tipped for top Labour Job!

Jennie Formby - Unite Political Director

UNITE union boss, Jennie Formby, is in the running to be the next Labour General Secretary following the resignation of current General Secretary, Ian McNicholl.

Before marrying Frederick Formby in 2004, she was the ex-partner of Len McCluskey - now the General Secretary of Unite - and was then known as Jennifer Louise Sandle.  In 1991, she gave birth to McCluskey's son at the Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton.  In February, Formby was given the job as Unite's Political Director on a salary of £75,000.

Although amiable and avuncular, McCluskey's love life has been the subject of a great deal of gossip since he stood for re-election as General Secretary of Unite in 2017.  When Formby gave birth to his child in 1991, McCluskey had been married to Ann his first wife, for 28-years, and had a son.  He was also living in union subsidised property, while his wife continued to live in Liverpool.  He then set up home with another lover called Paula Lace, in a union-subsidised property.

During last years election for Unite General Secretary, which McCluskey won by a narrow margin, there were allegations that he had used union funds to help him buy properties in London.   The union said that the "purchase agreement" was not a loan of £400,000 but "an equity share arrangement."  His re-election is now the subject of an official probe by the Certification Officer.

Apart from being a close friend of Len McCluskey, Jennie Formby is also a close friend of Karie Murphy, a former Unison union official who was embroiled in the "Falkirk Fix Scandal."   A former nurse from Glasgow, Murphy is said to be the director of the Labour leader's office. 

When the New Statesman called Karie Murphy the "courtesan in the court of Corbyn" and revealed that she was Len's 'partner', they received a legal letter insisting on a correction to the effect that she was merely "a close friend of Len McCluskey" and nothing else.

Whatever attracted many of these women to the ageing libidinous Liverpudlian, is something that will always remain a mystery.  But power is said to be one of the most potent of aphrodisiacs, even though it is said to corrupt.  Personally,  I think Telemaque, sums the situation up most succinctly - "Services! talents! merit! bah! - join a clique."

Alec McFadden asks Unite to behave 'gracefully'

The statement below is Alec McFadden's legal 
representative's response to Alex Flynn,  Head of Unite 
media and campaigns: 

‘Mr McFadden’s challenge was not technical.  It was based not merely on his vehement denial of the trumped up allegation but also on the blatantly unfair procedure used against him which included the refusal of both the disciplinary and the appeal panel to even call the complainant to appear before them, thus preventing them or Mr McFadden questioning the complainant.  It was based also on the refusal of the appeal panel to even consider evidence that the allegation against Mr Mc Fadden was fabricated. Unite charged Mr McFadden under a rule which Unite, which the ACO (Assistant Certification Officer) held did not apply, and he rejected Unite’s remarkable defence that the rule meant the opposite of what it said. 

 

‘To suggest now that Unite may bring another, different charge under a different rule more than two years after the allegation was made, demonstrates nothing less than persecution of Mr McFadden.  It is impossible to see how the Unite disciplinary process (already found by the ACO to be fatally flawed) could ever have the appearance of justice if it is to rest on bringing repeated charges at two year intervals until a conviction is finally secured.  Unite has spectacularly failed to conduct its disciplinary proceedings fairly or in accordance with its own rules and it should now accept the CO’s findings gracefully and let Mr McFadden return to his valuable work for the union.’

Unite replies in Alec McFadden case

Alec McFadden v Unite the Union 

 Northern Voices contacted the Unite Press Office

for a reply to Alec McFadden's press statement, and for

Unite's interpretaion of the Trade Union certification

officer's ruling.  The union's reply is published in full below:

Hi Brian

Gail forwarded me your email seeking a response to Mr McFadden’s press release. Please find our response below.

A Unite spokesman said: “Unite does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination and is committed to equality and fairness for all. The decision by the Certification Officer was based on a procedural and technical challenge and does not appear to make any difference to the findings of the investigation that found Mr McFadden to have a case to answer. Unite will consider the full judgement when it is delivered and assess whether it is appropriate to recharge Mr McFadden under our disciplinary rules.”

All the best

Alex

Alex Flynn

Head of media and campaigns

Unite the union

McFadden case: Unite breaks its own rules

Below Northern Voices publishes the decision of the trade union certification officer over the procedure used by the Unite union to investigate and discipline Alec McFadden, over a complaint of alleged inappropriate behaviour by him in October 2015.  The trade union certification officer's decision shows that the Unite union, in its disciplinary procedure against Mr. McFadden, exceeded its powers.  This decision is based on a failure of natural justice by the Unite union in the manner in which it treated Mr. McFadden:

Press Release 11th October 2017

Alec McFadden's press statement last night begins by declaring:
 'UNITE the Union has been found to have acted outside of its jurisdiction in debarring veteran Trade Unionist and Community Campaigner Alec McFadden from his elected office.'

DECISION OF THE ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION OFFICER ON APPLICATION BY MR ALEC MCFADDEN MADE UNDER SECTION 108A OF THE TRADE UNION AND LABOUR RELATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1992 

 Mr Alec McFadden vs Unite the Union

The Assistant Certification Officer, having considered the three preliminary issues set out in the decision in these proceedings dated 24 July 2017, has concluded that the disciplinary proceedings by Unite the Union against Mr McFadden and the consequent penalties imposed upon Mr McFadden were in breach of the rules of the union.  He therefore makes a declaration to that effect, pursuant to sections 108A and 108B of the 1992 Act.
The Assistant Certification Officer will give his reasons for his decision in writing shortly; however this decision is provided in advance of those written reasons so as to make it clear to the parties that the hearings in these proceedings fixed for 9 and 10 October 2017 are now unnecessary; and he directs that those hearings be vacated.
It is not clear to the Assistant Certification Officer whether Mr McFadden seeks any remedy under section 108B of the 1992 Act other than the above declaration.  If he does, he must set out what remedy or remedies he seeks in writing to the Assistant Certification Officer and to the union by 17 October 2017; and the union shall respond thereto in writing to the Assistant certification Officer and to Mr McFadden by 31 October 2017.

Jeffrey Burke QC 3 October 2017

Celebrations at Boot & Flogger Premature!

PRIVATE EYE (5th, May) reporting on the victory of Len McCluskey in his bid to hold the top job in Unite said that '...celebrations were premature.  The far left saw its majority slashed on the Unite executive council last week.'
It seems that after his win McCluskey, other Unite officers, and Corbyn's head of strategy and communications, Seimas Milne, 'decanted to the Boot and Flogger wine bar near London Bridge to celebrate their victory', where they enjoyed 'bottle after bottle of champaigne (the chepest of which costs £47 a pop, according to the wine list).'  The Eye claims:
'Handily for McCluskey, the Boot and Flogger is just a short stagger from the Borough Market flat Unite decided its members should buy for McCluskey with £400,000 of their hard earned money.'
Before the election, the left-wing group had around 80% of the ruling body's 63 seats.  But that has now been reduced to 54%, with 39 new members representing United Left, and 32 independents.
The result is significant because any changes to Unite's rules must be backed by 75% of Executive Council members.
Now according to the PoliticsHome website a Unite source has said:  'United Left have lost a lot of seats and they have a shaky majority. It means Len McCluskey has lost the ability to change rules, which he had before. He no longer has a pliable EC.'
Electoral Reform Services report into the Unite Executive Council elections shows that turnout for the EC section of the ballot was less than 10% across the country.  For the general secretary election, a total of 1,062,049 ballot papers were sent out to union members, but only 130,071 were returned - a turnout of 12.2%.
Labour MP, John Spellar has already referred branch nominations to the trade union certification officer.  More challenges under trade union election law could be in the pipeline.