The union that bankrolls Labour wants to disrupt the London Olympics

By Tim Montgomerie
_{Follow Tim on Twitter}

Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey has caused outrage tonightby encouraging disruption of the Olympics through "civil disobedience". This is the full quote from The Guardian:

“The unions, and the general community, have got every right to be out protesting. If the Olympics provide us with an opportunity, then that's exactly one that we should be looking at. The idea the world should arrive in London and have these wonderful Olympic Games as though everything is nice and rosy in the garden is unthinkable. If we need to break the law in order to defend what are our basic human rights – right of association – then we will do that. You raise the Olympics because it's a focal point. And if there is a protest, then the purpose of protest is to bring your grievances to the attention of as many people as possible. When you say what can we do, and the likes of the Olympics, I'm calling upon the general public to engage in civil disobedience.”

Sayeeda Warsi, Tory Chairman, has wasted no time in condemning "Labour's biggest financial backer":

“This is an appalling display of naked self-interest by Labour’s biggest financial backer. The London Olympics will be a great occasion for this country. Is it disgraceful for a trade union boss to be calling for mass disruption when the eyes of the world will be on Britain. I am shocked that Unite would sink so low as to spoil this great national event for everyone else. Ed Miliband must urgently order his union cronies to rule out disrupting the Olympics.”

It is also important that Ken Livingstone condemns Unite. I know Boris Johnson will be on that case.