Red Len remains resolute after Miliband fails to appease union backers with socialist pledges Len McCluskey, the biggest union donor to Labour's coffers, told a conference gathering in Brighton last night: 'It's our party' His Unite union has given £8.4million since Ed Miliband became leader Mr Miliband has vowed to bring back socialism By Tamara Cohen and Jason Groves The biggest union donor to Labour's coffers declared last night "it's our party." Len McCluskey told a conference gathering in Brighton: "No one is pushing us out of our party. We are here this week to carry our voice into the political arena. His Unite union has given £8.4million since Ed Miliband became leader. Mr Miliband made a pitch to the Left at the weekend by promising a mansion tax, a higher minimum wage and monitoring of how many women appear on TV. Determined: Last night, Len McCluskey told a conference gathering in Brighton: ¿No one is pushing us out of our party. We are here this week to carry our voice into the political arena.¿ And, asked when he would "bring back socialism," he replied: "That's what we are doing. It is about fighting the battle for economic equality, for social equality and for gender equality too. That is a battle that is not yet won in our country. Mr Miliband said Labour would scrap the Tories" free schools policy and force primaries to stay open for longer to offer "wraparound" childcare from 8am to 6pm. However, his remarks did not appear to appease Labour's union backers, who have clashed with him over his plans to reform their relationship with the party. "We are certainly not going to accept any advice on democracy and transparency from the people who brought us the cash for honours scandals," said GMB boss Paul Kenny. Promises: Mr Miliband made a pitch to the Left at the weekend by promising a mansion tax, a higher minimum wage and monitoring of how many women appear on TV At a fringe event, Mr McCluskey suggested Labour must show it is following the unions" agenda or his union would pull its support, saying: "My challenge to Ed Miliband is to make it clear that the Labour Party is the party of working people, is the party of organised labour. Labour has no god-given right to exist - it can only exist if it speaks for ordinary working people. Demonstrate that you're on our side. The Unite leader called on anti-austerity campaigners to rise up, drawing a bizarre parallel with the Arab Spring, which he said showed "people power can bring down dictators." He also condemned "evil" capitalism" and Labour for backing the principle of flexible markets. Mr Kenny, meanwhile, said the union link would not be "washed away for an electoral gimmick." He insisted that a dilution of the unions" collective voice in the Labour Party was simply "not on the agenda." Mr Miliband is facing a further potential blow from the unions today when Unison attempts to overturn his policy on public sector pay. Mr Miliband has said a Labour government would keep the current cap in place. But Unison will attempt to reverse this today by forcing a conference vote on the issue, which looks likely to end in defeat for the leadership. Mr Miliband wants union members to opt into party membership rather than be automatically affiliated. Debate: GMB boss Paul Kenny has clashed with Mr Miliband over his attempts to appease Labour's union backers But Mr Kenny, who announced plans this month to slash funding to Labour by £1million a year in protest at the reforms, said: "We can expand ad infinitum the number of people we bring into the tent, but if what they say is ignored, as has been the case in the past, in favour of dinner party babble, then why bother?" Mr Kenny, who received a standing ovation from union leaders inside the hall, urged Mr Miliband to focus on bread-and-butter issues such as jobs and living standards, saying the public "do not give a fig" about party funding. A special conference will be held next March on whether the planned reforms will be accepted.