LEFTIE union baron Len McCluskey took private plane flights and football tickets from a building firm, a report reveals.
The firm is also said to have overcharged Unite by at least £30million for building a £96million hotel.
An internal investigation by the union said the Flanagan Group, run by pals of McCluskey, was handed the job to build the hotel complex in Birmingham without a single rival bid.
Sharon Graham, who has since replaced McCluskey as Unite general secretary, hired barrister Martin Bowdery KC in 2021 after she found a £125million black hole in the union’s accounts.
She told the BBC: “I was absolutely astounded. It’s either rank incompetence, or something else.”
The report, seen by the BBC, says McCluskey ignored legal advice and personally signed off the building contract.
He later got private flights to two Liverpool Champions League finals on planes arranged and paid for by the Flanagan Group.
Unite said there is no evidence he ever paid them back.
The report also said he got tickets to five Liverpool matches, four with hospitality.
McCluskey’s lawyers told the BBC he paid for his own travel in full and always paid for his football tickets.
They claim he does not recall signing the main contract and denies overruling anyone.
The hotel ended up swallowing £125million of Unite cash and is now worth just £38million.
Ms Graham has brought in new auditors, staff and a crackdown on dodgy deals.
The Flanagan Group refused to comment but previously claimed the project was “an exceptional asset”.
PAA report reveals union boss Len McCluskey took private jet rides from a building firm[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
