Keir Starmer has faced a setback as a progressive candidate has been elected as the new leader of one of Labour’s major union supporters, Unison. Andrea Egan secured victory as the General Secretary with nearly 60% of the votes, defeating incumbent Christina McAnea, who had a close working relationship with Starmer and the Labour Party.
The election outcome presents a significant challenge for the Labour Party. Egan, who was expelled from Labour in 2022, campaigned on a platform to reassess Unison’s ties with the party. This shift in leadership could potentially impact the dynamics within Labour’s National Executive Committee.
Unison, the largest trade union in the UK with approximately 1.3 million members primarily from the NHS, care, and public sector, holds significant influence within the Labour Party and is among its top financial supporters.
Egan’s campaign focused on conducting a thorough review of the union’s association with Labour to ensure alignment with democratically-endorsed policies and maximize the union’s impact. The election of Egan, who will assume office in January for a five-year term, signals a shift towards member-led decision-making and a commitment to advocating for public sector workers’ rights.
Egan, a social worker from Bolton, has pledged to forgo the General Secretary salary and opt for a social worker’s wage. Her previous expulsion from Labour stemmed from sharing content from a banned Marxist group, and she has since expressed support for Your Party, a left-wing initiative led by Jeremy Corbyn.
Starmer extended his congratulations to Egan on her new role, expressing readiness to collaborate. He also acknowledged McAnea’s contributions to advancing workers’ rights and fair pay agreements, highlighting her role in securing key legislation during her tenure.
Hollie Ridley, General Secretary of the Labour Party, commended McAnea for her advocacy for workers and the accomplishments under her leadership, emphasizing the significant legislative milestones achieved for workers’ rights. Ridley also welcomed Egan’s election and expressed optimism about their collaboration to continue delivering progressive change for the country.
