General Secretary of Unite the Union, Len McCluskey, clashed furiously with a BBC reporter over questions concerning the Labour leadership contest. Unite, the largest affiliate and a major donor to the Labour Party, announced yesterday their endorsement of Rebecca Long-Bailey and Richard Burgon as leader and deputy leader respectively in the race. However, when Newsnight Policy Editor Lewis Goodall grilled Corbyn ally Mr McCluskey over his organisation’s decision to pick Mr Burgon over Angela Rayner, the trade unionist lost his temper.

He told Mr Goodall: “Richard Burgon had a particular vision that gels with our membership’s view of where we’re going forward in the future.”

When the Newsnight journalist asked for a reason they had backed the Shadow Justice Secretary “specifically”, Mr McCluskey became agitated.

He said: “I’ve just told you. A vision. How long have you got on Newsnight? Or is this going to be a two second cut as normal?

“Richard Burgon has put forward a vision, a vision about what he believes in, a vision of what he would do in supporting whoever the leader is, and that vision was felt to be the strongest that was put forward today.”

When Mr Goodall tried to defend himself, the trade union leader snapped back: “Let me answer the question.

“If you’re trying to drive a wedge in between Richard and Angie then you’re going to fail.

“People were very impressed with Angie as well.”

Five candidates are currently running for Labour deputy leadership: Rosena Allin-Khan, Mr Burgon, Dawn Butler, Ms Rayner and Ian Murray.

Mr McCluskey also praised Mrs Long-Bailey as having “the brains and brilliance” to beat Boris Johnson.

He said that his union would make a “substantial” donation towards her campaign.

The Shadow Business Secretary now needs just one more union or affiliate group to endorse her to confirm her place on the members’ ballot.

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The race to succeed Mr Corbyn is down to four after Jess Phillips quit.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy have made it on the final leadership ballot, after securing the necessary trade union and affiliated group support.

Emily Thornberry and Mrs Long-Bailey have yet to reach the threshold.

Ms Phillips said she would be happy with either Ms Nandy or Sir Keir as leader.

However, she argued that Mrs Long-Bailey would be the wrong choice for Labour at this moment.

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