Unite Refers £66m Fraud Case to SFO

An internal investigation found former Unite union leader Len McCluskey accepted private jet flights and football tickets from the Flanagan Group, which received a no-bid contract for Unite's Birmingham hotel and conference centre and overcharged the union by at least £30 million. The report concluded that McCluskey overruled staff and legal advice to push through the contract, with no evidence he reimbursed the company for the perks, though he denies wrongdoing. The project cost Unite around £125 million but is now valued at just £38 million. Unite subsequently wrote off £66 million from its accounts and referred the case to the Serious Fraud Office, citing a 'pervasive fraud environment.' Current general secretary Sharon Graham launched the probe and has committed to recovering lost funds and preventing future corruption. She has also pledged to restore financial transparency and prioritize member support.