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Len McCluskey has won the poll to be re-elected as general secretary of Unite.

He'll serve a third term as leader of the UK's largest union, after defeating challenger Gerard Coyne.

The result was closer than expected, and was initially expected to be revealed next week.

Mr McCluskey secured 59,067 votes, just 5,523 more than Gerard Coyne.

A third candidate, left-winger Ian Allinson, got 17,143 votes.

Turnout in the election was 12.2%.

The result comes amid controversy over Coyne's suspension as regional secretary for the West Midlands, his full time job working for the union.

The Union's acting regional secretary emailed local branches yesterday, to tell them Coyne had been relieved from his duties.

(Image: PA)

The email said the suspension was "pending investigation into certain issues which have arisen."

The move was confirmed by Coyne's spokesman.

Coyne was seen as the 'anti-Corbyn' candidate in the race.

In a statement, Coyne said: "It has been a very close count and the ballot sends some very serious messages to Unite.



"I am proud to have run a campaign that faced up to the issues that concerned members. Unite needs to change, and it needs to put its focus back where it belongs: on looking after the real interests of the members of the union.



"It's been a hard and robust campaign. The union machine consistently attempted to bully and intimidate me, something that has continued even after the close of polls.



"Nevertheless tens of thousands of members backed my fight to change our union for the better.



"On the downside, turnout has fallen disastrously. Many members have reported to me that they did not get their ballot paper at all or if they did, that it arrived literally on the day polls closed and so was useless.



"This was no vote of confidence, with falling turnout and a halving of Len McCluskey's previous vote. It's time for all those that were involved to reflect on the message that the union's membership are sending to the organisation."