Len McCluskey’s re-election as head of Unite is a tragic outcome.
Len McCluskey's re-election as head of Unite is a tragic outcome.
The Tragedy of Rewarding Failure
The British establishment has a peculiar habit of rewarding failure. It seems that those who mess things up are often promoted rather than held accountable. This pattern was evident in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, where the Remain campaign was outsmarted and outmaneuvered by Leave. Despite the clear display of brainpower from the Leave camp, it was the leaders of the failed Remain campaign who received honors and accolades. Will Straw, the leader of Stronger In and son of former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, was awarded a CBE. Craig Oliver and Ed Llewellyn, David Cameron’s key aides, were knighted. These individuals, who led the losing side in one of the most significant political battles in recent British history, have since faded into the margins of public life. On the other hand, those who led the successful campaign for Brexit, like Douglas Carswell, have chosen not to contest their seats in the upcoming general election.
This pattern of rewarding failure is not exclusive to the conservative establishment; the left-wing establishment is equally guilty. An example of this can be seen in the career of Alan Rusbridger, the former editor of The Guardian. During his tenure, Rusbridger’s unconventional business model resulted in financial difficulties for the newspaper. However, instead of facing repercussions, he was appointed head of Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford University and chair of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
Another recent example of rewarding failure can be found in the re-election of Len McCluskey as the head of the Unite union. Unite is a trade union giant with over a million members and significant influence within the Labour Party. The recent leadership election, which saw McCluskey win a third term, was a closely contested battle against Gerard Coyne, a moderate candidate. Despite Coyne’s efforts to engage grassroots members, apathy and extremism prevailed, leading to McCluskey’s narrow victory. It is worth noting that Unite suspended Coyne from membership and stripped him of his regional secretary duties just as his campaign was ending. McCluskey’s re-election with only 6% of the possible vote highlights the flaws in the union’s electoral process. This outcome is a tragedy for the British left as it ensures another five years of incompetent leadership for Unite and significantly boosts Jeremy Corbyn’s chances of retaining his leadership of the Labour Party even after losing the general election.
The magnitude of McCluskey’s failure cannot be overstated. He backed Ed Miliband over David Miliband for the Labour Party leadership, a decision that may have cost Labour victory in the 2015 election and ultimately led to the Brexit referendum. He also supported Jeremy Corbyn’s ascent to leadership and shielded him from challenges that could have saved the party from its current state. Meanwhile, McCluskey’s own union has experienced a decline in membership, losing half a million members since the last election and surrendering its position as Britain’s largest trade union to Unison. These failures, combined with McCluskey’s close association with hard-left factions and his questionable tactics, such as manipulating weak leaders and applying different rules to himself, reveal his true character.
The rise of super-companies and the disruption caused by technological innovation and artificial intelligence present an opportune moment for the trade union movement to reinvent itself. With the consolidation of global capitalism and the advent of massive technological change, the trade unions have a chance to advocate for a rebalance of power and address the common interests of the working and middle classes. However, McCluskey has failed to seize this opportunity. His leadership of a shrinking, aging, and public-sector-dominated trade union movement has not addressed the profound economic forces reshaping global capitalism and the labor market.
In a time where global capitalism is consolidating power and technological advancements are transforming jobs and industries, the British left needs intelligent and imaginative leadership. McCluskey’s re-election as head of Unite, despite his failures and shortcomings, represents a betrayal of the working class and undermines the principles of natural justice. The tragedy lies not only in his personal failures but also in the fact that Unite, as a powerful trade union, has missed its chance to contribute meaningfully to the changing landscape of the labor market and the future of workers’ rights. It is essential to hold accountable those who lead with incompetence, reward success rather than failure, and ensure that the voices of ordinary working-class people are heard and represented effectively in this era of rapid change.
