Skip to main content

Police clear Ineos ex-convener Deans

'No evidence of criminality' by persecuted Unite official

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey hit out at "anti-union hysteria" yesterday after police cleared victimised

former Grangemouth refinery convener Stevie Deans of any wrongdoing.

Mr Deans quit his job in October amid allegations that he had enrolled refinery workers as paid-up Labour Party members without their knowledge in order to influence the branch's choice of candidate in an upcoming by-election in Falkirk.

At the time a Police Scotland probe and an internal party inquiry had already cleared Mr Deans of any unlawful activity, with Labour leader Ed Miliband saying they had found no evidence of wrongdoing according to the party's membership rules.

Witnesses had retracted evidence suggesting that they had been recruited to join Labour as part of a drive by Unite.

But the right-wing Sunday Times breathed new life into the affair when it alleged that it had seen leaked emails suggesting the retraction letter had been written by Unite officials and signed off by Mr Deans himself.

The allegations were made as refinery owner Ineos pursued its own internal disciplinary proceedings against the official, with the company's management alleging that he had used workplace time and resources to pursue party political activities.

Ineos's billionaire owner Jim Ratcliffe engineered a stand-off with Unite members late last year, shutting down the refinery's production for a week and threatening the loss of 800 jobs unless his workforce accepted drastic cuts to pay, pensions and employment terms.

Mr Deans resigned two days after the Sunday Times article appeared.

But a Police Scotland spokesman said yesterday that its investigation had yielded nothing.

"Following information received alleging misconduct by a member of staff at the Grangemouth refinery, a Police Scotland inquiry was undertaken.

"This inquiry has now concluded and there is no evidence of any criminality."

Mr McCluskey said the findings "vindicated" both Mr Deans and his union.

"Stevie Deans is a decent and honourable man who has been smeared and hounded with a callous disregard for him and his family by those who should know better.

"The anti-union hysteria whipped up by certain sections of the media and their friends to pursue a spiteful agenda has been shocking.

"Their witch-hunt has been exposed to be without foundation and a lie," he said.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 12,411
We need:£ 5,589
5 Days remaining
Donate today