Candidates for the leadership of a major union of civil servants are supporters of a far-left agenda

Marion Lloyd Runs for PCS President

An official running for President of a major civil servants union is affiliated with a self-proclaimed socialist group seeking oust the Conservatives and pursue a far-left agenda.

Marion Lloyd, head of the PCS trade union branch at the Department of Business and Trade, has been selected as the candidate of the Broad Left Network, an anti-Torian organization that has pledged support for former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn.

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An activist group that seeks to «bring the PCS back to its socialist and democratic roots» is supporting candidates from all over Whitehall for union leadership positions.

In campaign materials for the PCS 2023 election, the network says it wants «Tory out!» and promises to «support anti-austerity candidates.»

In a leaflet urging members to support Ms. Lloyd, says: “Tori out! We need a strong political voice. We should only support candidates who oppose austerity and support the interests of our members and our policies.

«Corbyn is banned — he supports us and we would support his independent position.»

Mr Corbyn was taken off the whip at the end of 2020 after he said the scale of the problem of anti-Semitism in the Labor Party was «grossly exaggerated for political reasons» during his leadership. He has since been banned from running for the party in the next election.

In a leaflet quote, Ms Lloyd urges colleagues to support her and other union candidates endorsed by the socialist group.

Double-digit pay hike< p>The pamphlet also calls for double-digit public sector wage increases, the repeal of «anti-union laws» and 100,000 new civil service employees claiming the Tories and civil service leadership «want us to pay the price of their economic crisis.»

“The declining cost of living is causing real hardship for our members, with approximately 40,000 people relying on food banks,” it said. “We need leadership capable of building a campaign that will benefit members in terms of wages, pensions and all the issues that affect us day in and day out.”

In addition to Ms. Lloyd, the group supports several candidates for the post of Vice President of the PCS and the National Executive Committee.

This includes civil servants from the Ministry of Labor and Pensions, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports. , and the Department of Upgrading, Housing and Communities.

A conservative source said: “Sir Keir Starmer needs to distance himself from these far-left activists who are trying to politicize the civil service. It is imperative that an impartial civil service be able to support any elected government and should not pursue partisan political ambitions.”

The PCS is not affiliated with Labor and it is clear that Ms Lloyd is not a party member.

PCS, Ms. Lloyd and the Broad Left Network have been contacted for comment.