Britain biggest trade union boss has warned Andy Burnham not to make Ed Miliband Chancellor in an open message to the newly-elected MP for Makerfield.
The former Greater Manchester Mayor is widely tipped to launch a leadership challenge to the Prime Minister following May’s disastrous set of local election results - which saw Reform gain control of a number of councils in Labour strongholds
Rumours have abounded that Burnham is considering making Miliband - the current Energy Secretary - his Chancellor if he succeeds in emerging as the next Prime Minister.
But Sharon Graham, the General Secretary of Unite, has criticised Mr Miliband, known for his environmental credentials, and claimed he has "no thought for jobs, skills and national security".
Ms Graham has also urged Labour to support a return to North Sea oil drilling and not to abandon Starmer’s plans to cut sales targets for electric cars.
She told The Times: "It is no secret that I disagree with Ed on almost every issue relating to a workers’ transition.
"Ed only seems to be interested in one side of the equation, rushing Britain to net zero with almost no thought for jobs, skills and national security.
"In my view, a Labour chancellor needs a vision for Britain that understands the skills we have, nurtures those skills and sees Britain as an industrial force that can lead in industries, not decimate them.
"Good investment in British industry is a no-brainer. Anyone who does not get that it matters where things are made and produced should not be chancellor."
Pressure is piling on the Prime Minister after Burnham stormed to victory in the Makerfield by-election, with the number of Labour MPs who have called for him to set out plans to quit Downing Street reaching 100.
Calls for Sir Keir to go have been building since Labour took a hammering in May’s local elections, and now marks around a quarter of the party’s 403 MPs.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly vowed to fight any leadership challenge, insisting he will not “walk away”.
But Mr Burnham’s by-election victory has prompted more backbenchers and Labour grandees to call for Sir Keir to stand down.
Some MPs who had signed a statement rejecting calls for a leadership election last month have now reversed their position, while former home secretary Alan Johnson told LBC his message to the Prime Minister would be: “It’s over, Keir.”
Sir Keir is understood to have spoken to a number of Cabinet ministers on Friday, some of whom are reported to have told him he should set out a timetable for his departure.
Some in Westminster believe a contest could begin as early as next week, but allies of Mr Burnham favour a longer wait to allow them to prepare for government.
Former transport secretary Louise Haigh, one of his supporters, said after his by-election victory: “We really hope that this can be a managed and orderly transition and Keir Starmer will reflect on the results, and Andy and Keir can meet in the coming days, and over the next week, and agree a path forward.”
It is understood that Mr Burnham’s camp wants Sir Keir to set out his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September.
