Sir Keir Starmer's authority within the Labour movement has been dealt a significant blow following a dramatic leadership change at the country's largest trade union.
Left-Wing Challenger Topples Union Chief
Christina McAnea was ousted as General Secretary of Unison today, after members voted for the hard-Left candidate Andrea Egan to lead the 1.4 million-strong public sector union. Egan secured a decisive victory, winning approximately 60 per cent of the vote.
This result represents a direct challenge to the current Labour leadership. Ms Egan, who was expelled from the Labour Party in 2022 for sharing material from a Marxist group, has been highly critical of the union's current ties to Sir Keir Starmer's party.
A Direct Threat to Labour's Finances
In her election manifesto, Egan declared it was "time for Unison's blank cheques to Labour to end." She has pledged to launch a "comprehensive review" of the relationship to ensure the union gets "value for money." This review puts substantial funding at risk.
Unison donated £1.5 million to Labour during last year's general election campaign and continues to provide the party with significant annual funding. Egan has criticised McAnea for a "subservient approach" to the Labour government.
Her victory means that both of the UK's two largest trade unions are now threatening to pull millions in funding from Labour in protest at Sir Keir's leadership and policy direction.
Broader Implications for Starmer's Leadership
The shift at Unison extends beyond finances. Andrea Egan has welcomed the formation of 'Your Party', led by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, suggesting it could be a "viable alternative" to Labour. She has also promised to oppose government policies harming members, signalling more potential battles with ministers over public sector pay and conditions.
Senior Labour sources had privately warned that an Egan victory would be an "utter disaster" for the leadership. It is also believed this could complicate Sir Keir's efforts to use the National Executive Committee to block a potential return to Westminster for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is reportedly considering a by-election to re-enter Parliament and potentially challenge for the leadership.
Christina McAnea, elected in 2021, had recently pushed back against claims she was too close to Downing Street, describing Unison as a "critical friend" to Labour that sought to influence party policy towards more socialist goals. Her defeat indicates a clear rejection of that approach by the union's membership.
