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Andy Burnham is currently engaging with leaders from the trade unions that provide financial support to the Labour Party as he seeks their backing in anticipation of his likely tenure as prime minister. This gathering is taking place at the Unison headquarters, which is one of the 11 unions affiliated with Labour, according to information from Unison sources shared with the BBC.
In his first public speech since declaring his intention to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, Burnham emphasized the need for local communities to gain “greater public control of essential services.” The GMB union is expected to address this subject during the meeting, focusing particularly on water ownership, as well as advocating for the purchase of British goods, support for school staff, and equal pay concerns. Securing endorsements from trade unions is a crucial part of the Labour leadership candidacy process. Apart from obtaining support from 20% of Labour MPs, contenders must also receive backing from either 5% of constituency Labour parties or from at least three affiliated groups, with two of those being trade unions.
Burnham, who recently won the Makerfield parliamentary seat, announced his leadership bid shortly after his election. He remains the only declared candidate at this stage, which means he could potentially assume the role of prime minister as soon as July 20 if no opponents emerge. A key issue creating friction between some unions and Burnham is his rumored plan to appoint Ed Miliband as chancellor. Leaders of Unite and GMB—both of which represent workers in the fossil fuel sector—have reportedly raised objections due to Miliband’s stance on North Sea oil drilling during his time as energy secretary. Miliband has consistently opposed granting new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
Gary Smith, the GMB general secretary, has described the government’s net zero policies affecting the North Sea oil and gas industries as “shameful” and “economic madness.” According to the Financial Times, Smith discussed the possibility of a Miliband chancellorship directly with Burnham during a recent meeting. Conversely, Unison general secretary Andrea Egan has expressed support for Miliband taking the chancellor role, as reported by the Guardian. Another figure mentioned as a potential chancellor under Burnham is Wes Streeting, the former health secretary whose resignation was a factor in Starmer’s downfall.
In addition to leadership appointments, the talks between Burnham and the unions might cover electoral reform. Critics of the current first-past-the-post system argue that it allows candidates to win with only a small share of the vote, thereby weakening democratic legitimacy. Proponents counter that the system produces clear outcomes and, theoretically, results in more stable governance. Burnham has long advocated for changes to the electoral system, stating during the Makerfield by-election campaign that he believes reform is needed to encourage “less point-scoring, more problem-solving.” Notably, eight out of Labour’s 11 affiliated trade unions officially support electoral reform as part of their policies
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