ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Len McCluskey’s giant Unite union today came under fire over a failed attempt to stop Sadiq Khan speaking at Labour’s annual rally.

The union, which represents thousands of bus company workers, allegedly opposed moves to give the London Mayor a key slot to address the party faithful at the conference which starts in Brighton at the weekend.

One senior Labour MP said: “Imagine Unite trying to block the son of a bus driver who is the person to have the biggest individual mandate of any elected politician in Britain. It’s ironic.”

Mr Khan has told of his pride how as a son of a bus driver he had risen through the political ranks to become Mayor.

Labour party chiefs yesterday conceded that former Tooting MP Mr Khan should get a speaking slot at the conference as the row over attempts to stop him threatened to overshadow the start of the annual rally.

The party’s conference arrangements committee (CAC) had backed the Mayor addressing delegates, just 24 hours after its governing body, the National Executive Committee, had refused to do so.

The CAC’s decision meant that a final decision could have ended up being made by delegates at the conference in a vote on Sunday. But the party confirmed yesterday that Mr Khan would get a speech, possibly on Sunday.

A Unite spokesman said: “Unite is happy that Sadiq Khan is speaking and will be looking forward to hearing what he has to say.”

Mr Khan was due to have missed out as Jeremy Corbyn sought to give delegates a bigger say at the annual rally, with the number of shadow cabinet ministers speaking from the stage being cut.

Mr Khan also angered allies of the leader with his speech at last year’s conference when he stressed the importance of “not just talking the talk, but walking the walk too”.

A source close to Mr Corbyn insisted the original decision not to give Mr Khan a speech was not “personal”, with the party also facing the dilemma that if he was given a slot, there would be pressure for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool’s Steve Rotheram to be offered the same opportunity.@nicholascecil