Lefty socialist boss of Britain's biggest union to remain in post after being voted for by just 7% of members
The socialist boss of Britain's biggest union is set to remain in post after being reelected, despite being voted for by only seven per cent of its members.
Unite released the final results of its members' vote, in which Sharon Graham and Simon Dubbins battled for the general secretary role.
The union described Ms Graham’s victory as “decisive,” as she was reelected with 68,694 votes.
However, the overall turnout for the vote was 100,089, just 10.31 per cent of union members.
Meaning Ms Graham was only voted in by just seven per cent of the union members.
Upon re-election, Ms Graham said: “It’s an honour to be re-elected by Unite members to serve as their general secretary. This decisive victory is a powerful mandate to continue change.
“The trust that members have placed in me will be fully repaid as we step up our focus on delivering for workers.
“Together we have already achieved a huge amount in the last five years.
“My second period of office will continue to be marked by a relentless focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of workers. It will always be members over ministers and the workplace over Westminster.
“We will continue deliver much needed reform to our union. It is my mission to build the industrial and political power required to better serve the working class.
“Workers face many challenges in a changing world. From AI to decarbonisation and rising global tensions. Unite will be at the forefront of a stronger collective rooted in the working class.”
It comes weeks after Ms Graham argued that Labour should back a return to North Sea oil drilling, and showing her distaste for Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband when he was in the running for Chancellor.
She told The Times: “It is no secret that I disagree with Ed on almost every issue relating to a workers’ transition.
"Ed only seems to be interested in one side of the equation, rushing Britain to net zero with almost no thought for jobs, skills and national security.
"In my view, a Labour chancellor needs a vision for Britain that understands the skills we have, nurtures those skills and sees Britain as an industrial force that can lead in industries, not decimate them.
"Good investment in British industry is a no-brainer. Anyone who does not get that it matters where things are made and produced should not be chancellor."
The attack against Mr Miliband was not taken well by some union members, and led to the leader shoip challange by international director of Unite Mr Dubbins.
One union insider told The Guardian: "(Sharon Graham's) interventions are boosting Farage and his crypto backers.
"And her attack on Ed played right into the hands of the Labour right."