The UK’s largest trade union, Unison, is on a potential collision course with Labour after it ousted a general secretary with close links to Keir Starmer in favour of a leftwinger who was expelled from the party three years ago.
In a result announced on Wednesday morning, Andrea Egan was elected as Unison’s general secretary, winning just under 60% of members’ votes, against Christina McAnea, who has been general secretary since 2021 and has kept the union close to Labour.
The change of leadership when Egan takes over next month could result in Unison, one of Labour’s biggest donors, following another major union, Unite, in scaling back contributions and considering formal disaffiliation from Starmer’s party.
Egan, a social workers with decades of union experience, who was on the left of Labour, was expelled in 2022 after the party said she had shared articles on social media from Socialist Appeal, an organisation banned by Labour.
The decision prompted accusations of a witch-hunt against leftwingers, while Egan said the move “does nothing to support” unity among Labour and unions.
In a statement, Egan said: “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.”
Starmer’s press secretary, asked if the prime minister was worried about the possibility of a review of Unison’s ties to Labour, said: “That’s a matter for Unison. I wouldn’t comment on that. More broadly, we’ve always worked closely with our trade union colleagues to improve the lives of working people. We continue to do so.”
Starmer congratulated Egan on the win, saying: “I look forward to working with her.” He thanked McAnea for her “outstanding contribution to the Labour and trade union movement”, including on the landmark employment rights bill, which completed its passage though parliament on Tuesday.
Mainstream, the new Labour lobby group linked to Andy Burnham, the Labour Greater Manchester mayor, seen as a possible future challenger to Starmer, said the result “shows clearly that vast swathes of Labour’s historic coalition feel the government has fallen out of step with its mainstream”.
It added: “By working hand in hand with our partners in the trade union movement, the Labour party has ushered in huge advances for working people before and it can do so again – but only if the party rediscovers its progressive instincts.”
In her manifesto, Egan promised to begin “a comprehensive review of our relationship with the Labour party to ensure we get value for money and use our influence to advance our union’s democratically agreed policies”.
In an interview during the campaign, Egan told LabourList that while Unison had a connection to Labour, “that doesn’t mean we should continue to be subservient”, criticising McAnea for being too close to Starmer to properly challenge him.
She said the government was acting with “absolute disregard for working-class people”, noting attempts to change welfare, curbs to immigration and the reduction of the winter fuel allowance, adding: “Why are they doing that? Is that because they think that well, they’re the only party?”
The advent of Your Party, established by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, meant Unison members could “see the possibility of a viable alternative to Labour for the first time”, she argued.
