Keir Starmer has lost a key ally as a left-wing candidate has been elected to lead one Labour’s biggest union backers.
Andrea Egan won the race to be Unison General Secretary, defeating incumbent Christina McAnea by 59.8% to 40.1% of the vote. Ms Egan will take over the post in January.
The news is a major headache for Mr Starmer. Ms Egan, who was expelled by Labour in 2022, ran on a promise to review Unison’s funding of the party – and could also shift the balance on Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.
Ms Egan said: “We public sector workers are on the frontlines of chronic underfunding, low pay, and outsourcing. We bear the brunt of it all. UNISON’s central task is to change that reality – our reality.
“This result means ordinary UNISON members are at long last taking charge of our union. We will put faith in members’ decisions and stand up to any employer, politician or cabinet minister who acts against our interests. Together, we will turn UNISON into the remarkable force for change it should be. That journey has begun today.”
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