Former union official investigated by solicitors physique

A senior official who stop one of many UK’s largest commerce unions amid a police probe is now being investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Howard Beckett, a certified solicitor, was Unite the Union’s assistant common secretary and head of authorized till his suspension in August 2022.

This was 4 months after police raided the union’s London headquarters as a part of an investigation into alleged bribery, fraud and money-laundering. Court docket paperwork present Mr Beckett’s properties in London and the Wirral have been additionally raided.

Mr Beckett has beforehand argued the claims towards him have been “baseless”.

He resigned from Unite in January 2023, introduced an employment tribunal declare towards the union for unfair dismissal however misplaced his case final 12 months.

It’s understood that the employment tribunal judgement prompted the Solicitors Regulation Authority to research Mr Beckett.

An SRA spokesperson stated: “We’re conscious of this subject and are investigating earlier than deciding on any subsequent steps.”

The SRA has the facility to high-quality people as much as £25,000, or refer instances to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal which may subject limitless fines and droop, or strike off, solicitors.

A spokesperson for Mr Beckett instructed the BBC: “The Employment Tribunal case is now continuing by the Employment Appeals Tribunal and individually Mr Beckett is suing Unite and [general secretary] Sharon Graham personally for breach of privateness. We’re assured concerning the final end result of each instances.”

An in depth ally of former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Beckett was initially instructed his suspension was resulting from allegations of “deceptive” the union’s ruling government council in relation to the development of its vastly over-budget resort and convention centre in Birmingham.

The mission, which is being investigated by the Critical Fraud Workplace, was initially estimated to price £7m however £112m was ultimately spent.

An impartial valuation later concluded the completed constructing was value solely £29m.

Ms Graham commissioned an inquiry which, the tribunal stated, led to the invention of £14m which didn’t function “within the closing accounts and it remaining a thriller as to how and when this determine had been assessed after which presumably paid” to a contractor.

Mr Beckett was additionally instructed he had been suspended resulting from “considerations concerning the probity of awarding contracts for affiliated companies”.

Mr Beckett was off work for nearly 18 months earlier than he resigned from Unite in January 2023.

His lawyer instructed the tribunal Mr Beckett had not been properly sufficient to take part in a disciplinary listening to and the union’s disciplinary expenses have been “baseless”.

The employment choose rejected this, and in addition discovered Beckett had not been demoted as he had claimed.

The choose did say, nevertheless, there have been “vital deficiencies” in Unite’s “investigation and disciplinary processes”.

Decide Nicolle wrote: “It could have been extraordinarily stunning within the Tribunal’s view had [Unite] allowed its Head of Authorized to return to energetic employment in circumstances the place there have been ongoing police investigations into very critical issues to incorporate bribery, cash laundering and offences below proceeds of criminality laws.”

Ms Graham, who succeeded Len McCluskey as Unite common secretary in 2021, didn’t give proof to the tribunal.

After the judgement, a spokesperson for Unite stated that Ms Graham promised to depart “no stone unturned” when she commissioned two impartial inquiries into the union’s earlier administration.

They stated: “The employment tribunal case involving the union’s former assistant common secretary Howard Beckett, which he misplaced on all counts, begins to permit the story to be instructed.

“We’re additionally pursuing authorized claims to get well cash misplaced to the union and the final secretary has put safeguards in place to make sure that such issues can by no means occur once more.”