Prefer Jewish News on Google
Sharon Graham re-elected as Unite general secretary after defeating pro-Palestine rival
The turnout in the ballot was just 10 percent, raising renewed concerns about member engagement in one of the country’s largest trade unions
A prominent pro-Palestine campaigner has been decisively beaten in the race to become general secretary of the Unite trade union, with incumbent Sharon Graham comfortably securing re-election despite a very low turnout.
Simon Dubbins, a senior figure in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Unite’s former International Director, stood as the far-left candidate backed by the SWP and other left-wing factions.
However, he received just 31,130 votes, less than half of Graham’s 68,694.
The turnout in the ballot was just 10 percent, raising concerns about member engagement in one of the country’s largest trade unions.
Dubbins and Graham have clashed repeatedly in recent years, notably over the union’s stance on the UK defence industry and dealings with Israel.
While Graham has prioritised protecting British defence jobs and condemned groups such as Palestine Action for targeting arms factories employing Unite members, Dubbins advocated for transitioning workers away from manufacturing military equipment for conflict zones and into “socially-useful production.”
Dubbins has also argued that the West should apply the same sanctions to Israel over its occupation of Palestine as it does to Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
The two also publicly disagreed when Graham cancelled a Unite Palestine fringe event at the Labour Party conference two years ago.
Despite her own hard-left roots, Graham has taken a strong stance against antisemitism within Unite since becoming leader five years ago.
Celebrating her re-election, Graham said: “It’s an honour to be re-elected by Unite members to serve as their general secretary. This decisive victory is a powerful mandate to continue change. The trust that members have placed in me will be fully repaid as we step up our focus on delivering for workers.
“My second period of office will continue to be marked by a relentless focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of workers. It will always be members over ministers and the workplace over Westminster.
“Workers face many challenges in a changing world—from AI to decarbonisation and rising global tensions. Unite will be at the forefront of a stronger collective rooted in the working class.”
During Len McCluskey’s tenure as General Secretary of Unite, between 2011–2021, the union was heavily entangled in the political crisis surrounding antisemitism in the Labour Party.
As a fierce ally and key financial backer of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, McCluskey consistently defended Corbyn against allegations of antisemitism, frequently clashing with Jewish community organisations and Labour MPs
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
