The head of Britain’s biggest trade union has said Andy Burnham should not make Ed Miliband Chancellor as she issued a direct message to the new Makerfield MP.
General Secretary of Unite Sharon Graham has called on Labour to back a return to North Sea oil drilling as she urged the former Greater Manchester Mayor not to row back on Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to water down electric car sales targets.
Mr Burnham had been linked with making the Energy Secretary his Chancellor, should he topple Sir Keir and become the next Prime Minister.
However, Ms Graham has criticised Mr Miliband, saying the former Labour leader had “no thought for jobs, skills and national security”.
The union chief 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.”
Makerfield MP Andy Burnham has been tipped to become the next Prime Minister
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Ed Miliband had been tipped to be Chancellor should Andy Burnham become PM
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GETTYSir Keir faces pressure to set out plans to quit Downing Street over the weekend after Mr Burnham romped to victory in the Makerfield by-election.
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.
One of those who has been critical of the Prime Minister is Ms Graham, who said Sir Keir “must do the right thing and step down”.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham slammed Sir Keir
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Elsewhere, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Steve Wright said it was critical that Labour urgently adopts a change in direction following Mr Burnham’s victory.
He said: “Members of the FBU are being forced to live with chronic underfunding of the fire service because of the way political decisions are being made.
“Keir Starmer has continued with the disastrous Tory approach of trying to cut our way to a better future that has so badly let down working class people for over 15 years.
“Andy [Burnham] now has a mandate to take on Farage and break with austerity by embracing policies to tax the super rich to properly fund public services and pay workers.”
Steve Wright, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union said Andy Burnham has ‘a mandate to take on Farage’
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GETTYGeneral Secretary of the TSSA rail union Maryam Eslamdoust added: “Andy Burnham’s victory is a mandate for a change in direction right at the top of the Labour Party.
“The electorate rejected the poison of the far right and backed a candidate strongly supported by the Labour movement.
“This win was delivered through a mass trade union-backed campaign that offered people hope for their communities.”
Unison General Secretary Andrea Egan said: “Andy Burnham’s victory is an important achievement. It shows the public aren’t fooled by the divisive tactics of the far-right, proving Farage and co can be defeated.”