Chinese investors have made an “incredible offer” to buy a grade-two listed country house owned by Unite, general secretary Len McCluskey revealed yesterday.

The Esher Place mansion in Surrey, which sits in eight acres of land and boasts 56 bedrooms, is used as a training and conference venue.

South East delegate David Lovelidge tabled an emergency motion over fears Unite was set to sell the jewel in Unite’s property crown to the Bank of China.

He protested it would be “ludicrous to get rid of such a well-run centre when the only alternative is to pay for private venues.

“We need the facilities to deliver such a robust training plan without incurring spiralling costs,” he said.

Mr McCluskey said financial pressures and the estate’s £500,000-a-year running costs meant the union must consider the “incredible” offer.

But he added: “Whether it’s a serious offer and they’re going to put the money on the table, we don’t know.”