Andy Burnham has met the leaders of trade unions that help fund the Labour Party, but the gathering at Unison’s headquarters was overshadowed by a deepening split over who should become his chancellor – with one union chief warning that Ed Miliband would “put a noose around the neck of job creation”.
The meeting, described by union sources as “positive”, saw Burnham fielding demands from the GMB over water ownership and workplace access, from Unison on longer waits for migrant care workers’ permanent residency, and from Unite for a wealth tax and more action on the cost of living. His commitment to maintaining fiscal rules on debt and borrowing was questioned.
“Andy Burnham meets unions amid rift over Ed Miliband as possible chancellor and pushes social media ban.”
But the most explosive issue remains the possible appointment of Miliband as chancellor. Unite leader Sharon Graham has openly criticised the potential move, while GMB general secretary Gary Smith described the government’s net zero policies on North Sea oil and gas as “shameful” and “economic madness”. At a private meeting last week, Smith voiced energy workers’ concerns. Unison’s Andrea Egan, however, has backed Miliband, according to the Guardian.
Burnham, who is so far the sole candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer and could become prime minister as early as 20 July, insists he has not yet decided who will run the economy. “I haven’t made those decisions, and deliberately not,” he told LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr. “Westminster goes into its normal mode, and it wants to endlessly speculate about personalities before policy.”
Sources close to Burnham describe the chances of Miliband becoming chancellor as “50/50”. Other names mooted include Wes Streeting, Sir Keir’s former health secretary, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Whoever takes the Treasury will be expected to split their time between 11 Downing Street and northern England, as part of Burnham’s devolution push. “Imagine if the chancellor spent part of their working week based outside London. It would change their perspective,” a source close to Burnham’s team said. Burnham himself plans to work from Manchester at least one day a week as prime minister, establishing a new No 10 North.
The presumptive prime minister is also pressing ahead with a social media ban for under-16s, which he calls a “critical first step” to keeping children safe online. He has spoken to Technology Secretary Liz Kendall about the measures and wants them delivered with “urgency”. Kendall confirmed she has spoken to Burnham and added: “He wants to have those measures in place.” The ban, unveiled by Starmer last month, had been thrown into doubt after his resignation.
At the same time, Burnham’s devolutionary instincts are raising hopes of better relations with Scotland. In an article for the Scotsman this week, he wrote: “After 10 years of political turbulence since Brexit, and 20 years of falling living standards since the financial crash, Westminster has not been working for people. It is broken. We will make politics work for you, and the place where you live.” First Minister John Swinney’s SNP has yet to signal whether it will collaborate or resist, but there is clear policy crossover: Burnham’s proposal to take essential utilities under public control mirrors Scotland’s state-owned water industry, and both sides are exploring reindustrialisation, housing, and apprenticeships.
With just over two weeks until Burnham is expected to walk into Downing Street, the shape of his government – and the depth of union support – remains uncertain.