Burnham meets trade union leaders in bid to shore up support
Andy Burnham is meeting leaders of the unions that fund Labor as he tries to shore up support ahead of his expected premiership.
According to information provided by Unison sources to the BBC, the meeting is being held at the headquarters of Unison, one of the 11 unions affiliated with the party.
In her first speech on Monday since launching her bid to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, Burnham suggested she wanted local communities to be given “more public control over essential services”.
Sources say the GMB union is expected to discuss the issue with Burnham, particularly on issues of water ownership, British buyout, school support staff and equal pay.
Union support is an important step towards becoming a candidate for the Labor Party leadership.
To make progress, candidates must have the support of 20 per cent of Labor MPs, as well as the support of 5 per cent of Labor Parties (CLPs) in the constituency or at least three of the party’s affiliates (at least two of which are unions).
Burnham announced his intention to leave his post shortly after being elected MP for Makerfield. He is the only candidate so far and if the situation continues like this, he could become the next prime minister as early as July 20.
The main point of contention between some unions and Burnham is the possible appointment of Ed Miliband as chancellor.
The general secretaries of Unite and the GMB union, which both represent workers in the fossil fuel industry, lobbied hard against Miliband over his North Sea oil drilling policies as energy secretary.
Miliband has repeatedly rejected calls to approve new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea.
GMB general secretary Gary Smith described the government’s net zero policies on the North Sea oil and gas industries as “shameful” and “economic madness”, and Miliband reportedly raised the possibility of becoming chancellor with Burnham when they met last week, according to the Financial Times.
However, Unison general secretary Andrea Egan backed Miliband for the chancellorship, the Guardian reported.
The other candidate being mooted for chancellor in Burnham’s government is reportedly former health secretary Wes Streeting, whose resignation contributed to Sir Keir’s downfall.
Electoral reform is among the issues likely to be discussed between Burnham and unions on Thursday.
Critics have long said that the first-past-the-post system means that candidates can be elected with a relatively low percentage of the vote, undermining democracy; but advocates say it means sure results and, in theory, a more stable government.
Burnham has long called for reform, telling BBC Radio Manchester during the Makerfield by-election campaign: “I think the electoral system needs to be reformed to make it possible to get fewer points, to solve more problems.”
Eight of Labour’s 11 unions also have an official policy in favor of electoral reform.
