Union Scandal Unveiled: Len McCluskey’s Luxury Perks Under Scrutiny
Imagine this: the head of one of the UK’s most powerful trade unions—an organization built on representing workers—jetting off in luxury private planes and enjoying VIP football tickets. Now, we’re not talking about hypothetical rumours. This is exactly what former Unite boss Len McCluskey is facing allegations over, according to a shocking internal report that’s now grabbing national headlines.
So here's the story. While he was at the helm of Unite, McCluskey allegedly enjoyed private jet flights and high-end matchday hospitality, all arranged and paid for by a construction company called the Flanagan Group. This isn’t just any construction firm—it’s the same company that built a multi-million-pound hotel and conference centre for Unite in Birmingham. And crucially, this company was run by McCluskey’s close friends.
The union’s own investigation has revealed that the Flanagan Group may have overcharged Unite by at least £30 million. That’s a staggering figure—especially when you consider the total spend on the hotel project ballooned from an original estimate of £7 million to an eye-watering £125 million. What’s more, the finished hotel has since been valued at just £38 million. It doesn’t take a financial expert to see something seriously wrong there.
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It gets even more troubling. The report claims McCluskey pushed forward the construction contract with Flanagan Group despite objections from both staff and union lawyers. His legal team now says he doesn’t recall signing the main agreement and insists he wasn’t aware of the internal pushback. But the evidence includes emails, flight details, and ticket confirmations linked directly to his Unite account.
Then there are the flights—luxury business jets to the 2018 and 2019 Champions League finals to watch his beloved Liverpool FC, including on a Falcon 900B, a jet boasting a full-size bed and eight leather seats. Reports estimate a round trip would’ve cost as much as £47,000. And that’s just for one match.
Unite’s current general secretary, Sharon Graham, has taken a hard line since taking over. She’s launched investigations, brought in new leadership in finance and procurement, and most importantly, she’s pushing to recover the missing millions. Her stance is clear: this was members' money, and she wants it back. “I was absolutely astounded,” she said in an interview. “This wasn’t just bad bookkeeping. It’s either rank incompetence—or it’s something else entirely.”
And as for those private perks? McCluskey’s lawyers insist he always paid his own way. But the lack of clear reimbursement records, the scale of the overspending, and the tight relationship with the Flanagan Group have raised eyebrows not just in the union but across the political spectrum. There were no gift and hospitality rules in place at the time, which might explain the loophole, but since then, new policies have been introduced to prevent this from happening again.
This situation is more than just a scandal about misused perks or mismanagement. It’s a cautionary tale about accountability, transparency, and the immense responsibility that comes with managing members’ trust—and their money. And as investigations continue, this story is far from over.
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