An attempt to force a re-run of the Unite general secretary election has failed, it was revealed yesterday.

After a year of investigations the official Certification Officer has dismissed attempts to force a re-run of the election which saw Unite general secretary Len McCluskey elected to hold office until 2018.

Objections to the running of the 2013 election were raised by losing candidate Jerry Hicks, who questioned the eligibility of some Unite members to vote.

The objections were thrown out after a number of hearings this month.

The challenge centred on claims of supposed “phantom votes” cast, but this was overwhelmingly dismissed by the Certification Office who ruled against Mr Hicks, on the substantial issues he had complained about.

A Unite spokesman said: “Unite was always confident that we had acted within the rules of our union and the law at all times.

“We are pleased that the Certification Officer has dismissed the key claims against Unite and we hope that media who gave such credence to claims of ‘phantom votes’ will now give this legal decision comparable attention.

“Unite’s members have had to endure repeated — and as we now are clear, baseless — smears against their union. With this decision our union’s integrity is upheld, and our focus on the vital task of standing up for working people can continue.”

The decision by the Certification Office concludes a year of legal proceedings on the matter.

Unite is Britain’s biggest union, with more than 1.3 million members.