Len McCluskey’s ex-lover Jennie Formby ‘in talks on Labour safe seat’

The mother of Unite boss Len McCluskey’s love child is to leave her top job at the union, in a move insiders claim signals a bid to become a Labour MP.

Jennie Formby, Unite political director and close ally of Left-wing firebrand Mr McCluskey, will switch to being the union’s South East regional secretary.

Labour sources report that Ms Formby, who is on the party’s ruling committee, has held conversations about becoming its candidate in Southampton Test, where Alan Whitehead is expected to stand down at the next election.

Ms Formby led Unite’s response to allegations of vote-rigging in a Labour candidate selection contest in Falkirk in 2013. It was claimed that Karie Murphy, a friend of Mr McCluskey, would have benefited from the alleged irregularities. She was cleared of all allegations.

A spokesman for Unite said: “Jennie [Formby] has no interest whatsoever in becoming a Labour MP, either in Southampton or elsewhere.”