Unions join forces to try to stop Ed Miliband becoming Chancellor

Two of Britain’s biggest trade unions have joined forces in a bid to prevent Ed Miliband from being appointed Chancellor over his rush towards net zero policies which they say undermines industries and workers’ jobs.

Although Andy Burnham, who is expected to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister without a contest, has not made clear who he wants as his pick for Chancellor, several names have been mooted, including Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood.

Unions are said to be most opposed to Miliband, arguing that his policies towards the North Sea oil have damaged jobs in the sector and would undermine job security.

The FT reports that both Unite and the GMB have teamed up to oppose Miliband, with Gary Smith, General Secretary of the GMB, reported to have met Burnham and told him his views on the Chancellorship, telling Burnham that the impact of net zero policies on the North Sea Oil and gas industries was ‘shameful’ and ‘economic madness’.

Last week, Sharon Graham, the General Secretary of Unite, Labour’s biggest financial backer, warned Burnham not to make Miliband chancellor, saying that the country needed someone at the Treasury who ‘doesn’t decimate industry’.

Graham 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.”