Miliband's showdown with Labour backer escalates

General Secretary of UNITE, Len McCluskey Credit: Press Association

Labour leader Ed Miliband has turned on the trade union Unite - his biggest financial backer - whose votes helped him become leader.

A report that accuses it of paying for votes to secure friendly candidates at the General Election has been sent to the Police by Mr Miliband. The leader of the Unite union, Len McCluskey, accused Labour of being 'amateur' and its headquarters of trying to "pick a fight". He said they'd done nothing wrong.

Ed Miliband insisted he was determined to uphold the integrity of the party and challenged Mr McCluskey to disown the activities of Unite in Falkirk.

Ed Miliband seen today at a school near Brighton Credit: Press Association

The Unite leader said they would co-operate with the police inquiry but warned that it would not bring the matter to an end.