Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Always Red

By: Len McCluskey
Narrated by: Len McCluskey
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Len McCluskey is the standout trade unionist of his era. Head of the giant Unite union for more than a decade, he is a unique and powerful figure on the political stage. In this major autobiography, McCluskey throws back the curtains on life at the top of the Labour movement - with explosive revelations about his dealings with Keir Starmer, the behind-the-scenes battles of the Corbyn era, his secret Brexit negotiations with Theresa May’s government, the spectacular bust-up with his former friend Tom Watson, and his tortuous relationship with Ed Miliband.

McCluskey is no run-of-the-mill trade union leader. Fiercely political and unflinchingly left wing, he is a true workers’ leader. His politics were formed in Liverpool at a time of dock strikes, the Beatles, and the May 1968 revolution in Paris. An eyewitness to the Hillsborough tragedy, he recounts in harrowing detail searching for his son. Witty and sharp, McCluskey delivers a powerful intervention, issuing a manifesto for the future of trade unionism and urging the left not to lose sight of class politics. A central player in a tumultuous period of British political history, McCluskey’s account is an essential - and entertaining - record of our times.

©2021 Len McCluskey (P)2021 Len McCluskey
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

This Land cover art
The Candidate cover art
How They Broke Britain cover art
The Insider cover art
Ragged Trousered Philanthropists cover art
This Is Only the Beginning cover art
Chavs cover art
Ten Years Hard Labour cover art
Blue Murder cover art
Protest and Power cover art
How Westminster Works...and Why It Doesn't cover art
One Party After Another cover art
The Plot cover art
Turning Points cover art
Inside Story: Politics, Intrigue and Treachery from Thatcher to Brexit cover art
Abolish the Monarchy cover art

What listeners say about Always Red

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    26
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Great book by a great man a must read for anyone who cares about the society they live in

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational

I have loved listening to this book spoken by Len in his own inimitable way. His delivery and performance make it seem like a conversation in your front room with an old friend. His journey from boy to man and the events that shaped him have been a fascinating insight into Red Len. I hope everyone who reads or listens to this book find inspiration and the courage and determination to carry the flame of workers solidarity forward.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always Red - Insightful & Inspiring

Always Red, narrated by Len McCluskey gives a fascinating insight into the life of Len, the birth of Unite the Union, and behind the scenes revelations surrounding the leadership of the Labour Party, and Jeremy Corbyn’s inspiring campaign to reform the UK into a socialist ‘for the many’ society.

This book is both inspiring & inspiring.

5 Stars all around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it .

Grateful to Len for writing, and reading it. Happy to be on the same side.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

inspired!

...... but he always did, it just needed to be sooner. Solidarity - You'll Never Walk Alone

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book and very well narrated

The was the first audio book that I was able to finish because I’ve struggled with some narrators who are difficult to listen to. Len’s soft soulful Scouse accent helped and also the substance within the book was really interesting . Len clearly provided vital support to the Corbyn project and is a very honourable person unlike some of the many hostile characters in the labour and trade union movement. I think this is the type of book that politically engaged people who have centre right politics could read and find interesting but would just be unreadable for those on right of the Labour Party who just find the left annoying, people who think that pragmatism is using whatever they can to smear and undermine their political opponents, even if that includes the weaponisation of racism.
I doubt Len can still understand why these people are anywhere near the Labour Party let alone running it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great insight into events

very interesting wish there was more details when it came to Grangemouth though. definitely worth a read/listen will keep an eye out for any further books

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

inspiring and sincere

ok I admit that I'm an unreconstructed Bennite who, like Len, was thrilled when Corbyn took over as Labour leader - and deeply disappointed when the members chose Starmer and Rayner over Long Bailey and Burgoyne. Also I should own that I'm a member of Unite and consider it to be the doyen of trade unions. So I start with a prejudice in favour of the McClusky approach to industrial relations. But even if I were coming fresh to this book, innocent of left wing UK politics, I think I'd find him persuasive and honest. The book is heartfelt, open and incredibly upfront. It is the story of a woorking class man's journey from youth in and around the Liverpool docks to being the lead voice of our time for progressive politics in the UK. An incredible leap, made by a gifted, strongminded individual who has had a huge influence on working people's lives, both directly and indirectly. I agree with every word he says. Thank you Len McClusky. You are an absolute beacon of clear thinking and pungent insight . Thank you for your hard work, determination and guts. thanks, in fact, for everything.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

tried this expecting to return it for a refund

this book is well written and well read; very informative and ultimately difficult to put down!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!