Len McCluskey. The building contract was awarded in 2015 to the Flanagan Group, a Liverpool company run by an associate of the Unite general secretary. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer
Unite, Labourâs most generous backer, appears to have more than doubled its planned expenditure on a controversial construction project in just five years.
Amid concern over the cost of building the hotel and conference centre in Birmingham, leaked accounts indicate that the union spent £74m up to the end of 2019. In 2015, media reports claimed the project was expected to cost £35m.
It comes days before the union, headed by Len McCluskey, holds a special meeting of its ruling body to discuss claims that the cost of the project has spiralled out of control. Unite has declined to comment directly on the figures, saying it would be inappropriate to do so before the executive council meets.