The Guardian suggests (Editorial, 22 March) that Len McCluskey is guilty of “skulduggery” because the election for general secretary in Unite has been called a few months earlier than necessary. In fact, the decision was taken by the union’s executive council in order to save the union about £1m by aligning the ballot with that for the union’s executive council. Both elections must be conducted under cumbersome, archaic and expensive Tory-mandated laws, and the argument to save money that might be better spent on defending members’ interests was compelling.
Gail Cartmail
Acting general secretary, Unite the union
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