Union boss Len McCluskey has issued a chilling warning to Labour MPs opposed to Jeremy Corbyn, telling them: "Move forward with us, or move over. Get out of the way."

The leader of the giant Unite union predicted a post-Brexit General Election in 2019 and claimed the political elite is "scared stiff" of a Corbyn victory.

Mr McCluskey, whose union donated £2.4m to Labour's General Election campaign in June, is Mr Corbyn's chief cheerleader and a massively influential power broker in the party.

His warning to the party's MPs to back Mr Corbyn or else suggests he and his union are prepared to back a de-selection purge of the Labour leader's critics.

Speaking at a Unite conference at Aviemore, in the Scottish Highlands, Mr McCluskey forecast a 2019 General Election if the Government fails to reach a deal with Brussels on Brexit.


"If there's no deal I believe the Government will fall and we will have a General Election," he said.

"And I think there would be a real chance of Labour winning that election and Corbyn coming to power."

Image: The union boss claimed the political elite is 'scared stiff' of a Jeremy Corbyn victory

Mr McCluskey said he never believed claims after June's election, in which Theresa May lost the Tories' Commons majority, that there could be another election this year.

"The Tories exist for one reason only and that is to have power," he said.

"I knew she wouldn't give up power and the Tories wouldn't give up power."

"My prediction, more a hope, is that we have a General Election in 2019.

"I believe that the issue of Brexit and the likelihood at the moment of no deal - and the powers that be will do everything to come up with a deal because what does look to be a certainty is if they come back with a no deal then Parliament will reject it.

"The DUP couldn't support it, because of the issue of the hard border in Ireland, there's a number of Tories who couldn't support it and Labour and the SNP would reject it and Theresa May would fall.

"Then I think we would be into an election in 2019."

Image: Theresa May 'would fall' in the event of a no deal Brexit, the Unite chief predicted

Mr McCluskey, a hardline left-winger branded "Red Len" by critics, claimed the political elite would "move heaven and Earth" to prevent the UK from exiting the EU without a deal.

"One thing that they are scared stiff of at the moment is a Corbyn Labour government," he said.

"If this was Tony Blair or Gordon Brown or Ed Miliband, they would be more relaxed.

"With Corbyn they are scared stiff that a Labour government under his leadership will actually change the power axis within our nation."

He told his union's activists: "That's how close we are, that is what is within our grasp.

"We now have an opportunity to transform our society, so I'm hoping for 2019 and I do believe Brexit is the issue that could bring this Government down."

Mr McCluskey said the Tory Government was "on its last legs" and said ministers were "stumbling around, reeling from every punch - usually self-inflicted, while the Prime Minister and her Cabinet cling to the ropes for survival".

Before the General Election, the Unite chief said winning 200 seats would be a successful campaign for Labour, but he now claims many of the Labour MPs elected in June benefited from a "Corbyn bounce".

And, after his warning to Mr Corbyn's critics get out of the way, Mr McCluskey said: "We have an exciting, real chance for change in this country, to reverse years of neglect and build a better tomorrow."