Former Unite official investigated for serious misconduct allegations

Howard Beckett, a former assistant general secretary of Unite the Union, is under investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Beckett, who is a qualified solicitor, was suspended from his role in August 2022 after a police raid on the union's headquarters. The raid was part of a probe into alleged bribery, fraud, and money laundering. Police also searched Beckett's properties in London and the Wirral during their investigation. He has denied all accusations, calling them "baseless." In January 2023, he resigned from Unite and later lost an unfair dismissal claim against the union. The SRA's investigation follows Beckett's tribunal loss. A spokesperson for the SRA confirmed they are looking into the matter to decide on further actions. The SRA can impose fines and refer cases to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which has greater authority. Beckett was suspended due to claims he misled the union’s executive council about a costly hotel and conference center project. Originally estimated at £7 million, the project ended up costing £112 million, with significant discrepancies in financial accounts. An inquiry by the union uncovered missing funds, raising further concerns about financial management. Beckett was unable to take part in a disciplinary hearing due to health issues, but the tribunal found his claims against the union lacked merit. The judge noted serious flaws in Unite's investigation processes but stated it would be surprising for Beckett to return to work given ongoing police inquiries into serious offenses. Unite's current general secretary, Sharon Graham, has not testified in the tribunal. Following the outcome, Unite officials pledged to explore legal actions to recover lost funds and implement stronger safeguards against future issues.