Charlie Whelan denies he will leave Unite

Mystery surrounded the future of the political director of Unite, Charlie Whelan after well-placed union sources today said the ex-Labour spin-doctor would be leaving his post in February – but Whelan himself denied he is going anywhere. More than one source said that he would be leaving by February and that it was common knowledge in the union leadership. But Whelan said he would not be going anywhere, "ever". Gordon Brown's former spin doctor was brought in by Unite to co-ordinate its political relations through the election. One source insisted that he always intended to leave after the election and that there was no mystery to his decision. But a second source suggested that he had become disenfranchised after failing to secure the union's backing for the former schools secretary Ed Balls – his long-time ally – in the Labour leadership contest. The union is in the midst of its own leadership campaign with four nominations now accepted and ballot papers going out next week. The election will be critical in deciding the union's future direction and strike action as the public sector cuts start to bite.