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Jeremy Corbyn backed by Unison in Labour leadership contest as trade unions take sides

Unite is also supporting Mr Corbyn, while the GMB is behind Owen Smith

Thursday 11 August 2016 13:57 BST

Mr Corbyn is confident of his ability to remain Labour leader (Getty)

Unison has given its backing to Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour leadership election as Britain's largest unions take sides.

It came after the 6000,000 strong GMB endorsed his rival Owen Smith, while Unite - the UK's biggest trade union - is also supporting Mr Corbyn.

Unison said it held regional and national discussions, as well as an online consultation of members who are affiliated to the Labour Party.

Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at Labour's leadership hustings

Its general secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “Jeremy Corbyn retains the backing of a majority of Unison’s Labour supporting members. That’s why the committee supported his nomination again.

“However, a significant minority backed Owen Smith. Their views will always be respected in our union- that’s our proud tradition."

Mr Prentis said that while it was healthy for people to hold differing views on the direction Labour should take, he hit out at "toxic" communications within the party.

“What’s toxic though is for abuse, threats and aggressive language to be considered acceptable- or the norm," he added.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

Show all 11

1/11The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

He called Hezbollah and Hamas ‘friends’

True. In a speech made to the Stop the War Coalition in 2009, Mr Corbyn called representatives from both groups “friends” after inviting them to Parliament. He later told Channel 4 he wanted both groups, who have factions designated as international terror organisations, to be “part of the debate” for the Middle East peace process. “I use (the word ‘friends’) in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk,” he added. “Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No.”

Reuters

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

‘Jeremy Corbyn thinks the death of Osama bin Laden was a tragedy’

Partly false. David Cameron used this as a line of attack at the Conservative Party conference but appears to have left out all context from Mr Corbyn’s original remarks. In an 2011 interview on Iranian television, the then-backbencher said the fact the al-Qaeda leader was not put on trial was the tragedy, continuing: “The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy.”

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

He is ‘haunted’ by the legacy of his ‘evil’ great-great-grandfather

False. A Daily Express exposé revealed that the Labour leader’s ancestor, James Sargent, was the “despotic” master of a Victorian workhouse. Addressing the report at the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he had never heard of him before, adding: “I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour.”

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn raised a motion about ‘pigeon bombs’ in Parliament

This one is true. On 21 May 2004, Mr Corbyn raised an early day motion entitled “pigeon bombs”, proposing that the House register being “appalled but barely surprised” that MI5 reportedly proposed to load pigeons with explosives as a weapon. The motion continued: “The House… believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again.” It was not carried.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

He rides a Communist bicycle

False. A report in The Times referred to Mr Corbyn, known for his cycling, riding a “Chairman Mao-style bicycle” earlier this year. “Less thorough journalists might have referred to it as just a bicycle, but no, so we have to conclude that whenever we see somebody on a bicycle from now on, there goes another supporter of Chairman Mao,” he later joked.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

'Jeremy Corbyn will appoint a special minister for Jews'

False so far. The Sun report in December was allegedly based on a “rumour” passed to the paper by a Daily Express columnist who has written pieces critical of the Labour leader in the past. The minister did not materialise in his shadow cabinet.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

‘Jeremy Corbyn wishes Britain would abolish its Army’

False. Another gem from The Sun took comments made at a Hiroshima remembrance parade in August 2012 where Mr Corbyn supported Costa Rica’s move to abolish it armed forces. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every politician around the world…abolished the army and took pride in the fact that they don’t have an army,” he added. The caveat that “every politician” must take the step suggests Mr Corbyn does not support UK disarmament just yet.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn stole sandwiches meant for veterans

False. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the Labour leader took sandwiches meant for veterans at at Battle of Britain memorial service in September but a photo later emerged showing him being handed one by Costa volunteers, who later confirmed they were given to all guests.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

He missed the induction into the Queen’s privy council

True. After much speculation about Mr Corbyn’s republican views and willingness to bow to the monarch, his office confirmed that he did not attend the official induction to the privy council because of a prior engagement, but did not rule out joining the body.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn refuses to sing the national anthem.

Partly true. The Labour leader was filmed standing in silence as God Save the Queen was sung at a Battle of Britain remembrance service but will reportedly sing it in future. Mr Corbyn was elusive on the issue in an interview, saying he would show memorials “respect in the proper way”, but sources said he would sing the anthem at future occasions.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn

He is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese

True. The group lists its purpose as the following: “To increase awareness of issues surrounding the dairy industry and focus on economic issues affecting the dairy industry and producers.”

"Labour is in danger of becoming the new ‘nasty party’ if this behaviour continues unchecked. There’s no place in the party for witch hunts against MPs, councillors and party staff.

“The decent hard-working people we represent don’t want a party riven by infighting. They want a united opposition that stands up for public services which are facing intolerable pressures.”

Unison says it represents 1.3 million public service workers, including teachers and NHS employees, making it the country's second largest union.

Mr Corbyn said he was "proud" to receive the support in a statement, adding: "Their incredible work, against the backdrop of cuts, privatisation and outsourcing of public services, keeps the services we all rely on running - from the NHS to local government. We need a Labour Party that gives them a voice."

The announcement came on another tumultuous day for Labour as the Court of Appeal prepared to rule on whether new members should be given the right to vote in the leadership contest.

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