In a major political upset, the UK's largest trade union has delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Unison, traditionally a moderate and loyal Labour affiliate, has elected left-winger Andrea Egan as its new general secretary, ousting the incumbent Christina McAnea.
A Damning Verdict on Downing Street's Influence
The result, announced on Wednesday 17 December 2025, represents a significant blow to Sir Keir and Number 10, who had strongly backed Ms McAnea's campaign for re-election. Her defeat, coupled with a notably low turnout among union members, is widely viewed as a damning indictment of the Downing Street operation's ability to command support within the party's traditional heartlands.
This development strips Sir Keir of a crucial safe haven within the labour movement. With Ms McAnea's departure, the buffer she provided against persistent criticism from the more militant Unite union has vanished. The Prime Minister now faces potential hostility on two fronts from the country's two biggest unions, fracturing Labour's fragile coalition of support.
As one Labour insider starkly summarised: "Keir's grip on the party and its organs is slipping."
Egan's Victory: A Leader with an Axe to Grind
The election of Andrea Egan introduces a new and unpredictable dynamic. Ms Egan is likely to enter the role with a personal grievance against the current Labour leadership. In 2022, she was expelled from the Labour Party for her links to the small Trotskyist group Socialist Appeal, which the party said did not share its "aims or values".
This past clash fuels concerns in Starmer's camp. Critics see her victory as a direct consequence of the leadership's style of party management. One supporter of Ms Egan stated she was a "long-term Labour person who should have never been expelled", adding pointedly: "You reap what you sow."
There is now active speculation that, following the lead of Unite's Sharon Graham, Ms Egan will publicly criticise Labour from the left. More radically, some union sources suggest she may even push for Unison to disaffiliate from the party altogether, a move that would sever a historic financial and organisational link.
Boost for Burnham's Ambitions?
The ramifications extend beyond internal party criticism. Ms Egan's victory has immediately fuelled speculation about the future leadership ambitions of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Even before her election, Ms Egan made clear she viewed Mr Burnham as a preferable left-wing alternative to Sir Keir.
Her ascent could smooth Mr Burnham's shaky path back into Parliament. Unison holds two seats on Labour's powerful National Executive Committee (NEC), the body that controls candidate selections. These representatives may now reflect Ms Egan's views, strengthening the left's voice on a committee long dominated by Starmer loyalists. This could prove crucial if Mr Burnham seeks a parliamentary seat in a future by-election and requires NEC approval.
For the soft left of the party, Ms Egan's election is a potent symbol. It confirms a suspected mood shift among Labour's core support base towards more left-wing alternatives. As another insider warned, the real threat to Sir Keir's leadership may not be from rival parties like Reform, but from "his own voters who are absconding en masse." The tune of Labour's internal politics is changing, and it is not one the Prime Minister is likely to enjoy.
