McCluskey criticises Mandelson for “anti-union outlook”

Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite, has joined a number of high profile people in publicly analysing where Labour’s 2015 general election campaign went wrong.

In an article in the Guardian, McCluskey criticises the likes of Peter Mandelson and John Reid for their own analysis of Labour’s loss. He argues that while they offer their own critique “they remain silent as to why New Labour lost five million votes between 1997 and 2010.” He then joins Labour MP and London mayoral hopeful Diane Abbott in dismissing claims that Labour lost for being too left wing.

McCluskey also takes on two key criticisms that have been launched at Labour’s campaign, both from within and outside of the party: that they weren’t seen as the party for “wealth creation” and that they didn’t properly deal with “aspiration”. He takes a different approach to these two subjects than some others, arguing “If “aspiration” and “wealth creation” are taken seriously, it should be possible to come up with a new progressive consensus around economic development which no longer relies on the finance sector and speculative bubbles.”

He pinpoints the party’s problem as having “no central theme, defining what it stood for.” But he dismisses Mandelson’s “anti-union outlook” and is clear that Unite will continue to play a part in the “debate ahead.”

McCluskey calls for a “strong leader” but doesn’t “express a preference at this stage in the leadership race.”