FIFTY THOUSAND Unite members have signed up to vote in the Labour leadership election, union general secretary Len McCluskey announced this weekend.

The news will come as a welcome boost to left candidate Jeremy Corbyn, whom Unite has pledged to support with Andy Burnham as a second preference.

Mr McCluskey told crowds at the Durham Miners’ Gala that he hoped the number would increase to 60,000 before the deadline for registering next month.

Under new rules introduced by former leader Ed Miliband, affiliated trade unionists now have to “opt in” before they are sent ballot papers to elect the leader and deputy.

But all votes are now weighted the same, unlike the previous electoral arrangement whereby three colleges of MPs, party members and union members each made up a third of the total vote.

The changes were brought in following a row over the Falkirk parliamentary selection, which commentators and party rightwingers said was being “stitched up” by Unite. Unite was cleared of wrongdoing.

Mr McCluskey hinted that Unite’s backing for Mr Corbyn was a reaction to the debacle.

“It’s the ferocity of attacks on my union makes me convinced we made the right choice,” he said.