Labour-supporting unions predict Starmer will not lead party into next election

"The 11 Labour-affiliated unions which include Unite, Unison and the GMB are expected to issue a joint statement on Wednesday saying at some stage the party will have to put a plan in place to elect a new leader. At a private meeting on Tuesday, the unions were divided over whether to call for Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure, with one source telling the Guardian there had been a big fight among union officials. However, they are understood to have agreed to issue a statement saying they expect there to be a change of leadership, despite GMB and Community arguing it was not in the unions' best interests to get involved in leadership wrangling."

"In a leaked copy of the statement, the unions said it was clear to them that Labour cannot continue on its current path, and despite some progress it was not doing enough to deliver the change people voted for at the last election. They urged the party leadership to focus on the fundamental change of direction on economic policy and political strategy they said working people needed, rather than the personalities and unfolding political drama at Westminster."

"Starmer was increasingly confident that he had seen off the immediate threat to his job on Tuesday after a challenge from Wes Streeting failed to materialise despite several of the health secretary's allies quitting the government. But the prime minister's fragile authority has been weakened by the resignation of four ministers three of them close allies of Streeting in what appeared to be an orchestrated move. More than 90 Labour MPs have also called for him to go since the weekend."

Eleven Labour-affiliated unions, including Unite, Unison, and the GMB, are expected to issue a joint statement calling for a plan to elect a new Labour leader. Unions were divided at a private meeting over whether to demand a timetable for Keir Starmer’s departure, but they agreed to expect leadership change. A leaked version says Labour cannot continue on its current path and has not delivered the change people voted for, despite some progress. The unions urge the party leadership to focus on fundamental economic and political strategy changes needed by working people, rather than personalities and political drama. Starmer’s authority has been weakened by ministerial resignations and calls from Labour MPs to remove him.

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