Unison general secretary backs Ed Miliband for chancellor

Andrea Egan – the general secretary of public services union Unison – has indicated she would back Ed Miliband becoming Andy Burnham’s chancellor.

Miliband is one of a number of people rumoured to be in the running for the job should Burnham become prime minister in the coming weeks. The other people reportedly being considered are the former health secretary Wes Streeting and the home secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Egan said: “Andy Burnham has a historic opportunity to rebuild our country in the interests of workers and communities, but that chance will be squandered if his government is made up of politicians determined to continue the same failed approach.

“We need a chancellor who will rewire the economy and properly invest to improve the lives of the majority. Of those reported to be in the running, only Ed Miliband could enact the kinds of policies trade unions and our members urgently need.”

Egan’s backing for Burnham contrasts with the stance of other key figures within the trade union movement.

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, has very publicly opposed Miliband becoming chancellor. She has said: “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.”

Gary Smith, the general secretary of GMB is also seeking to stop Miliband becoming chancellor, and is opposed to his stance on North Sea oil and gas.

Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward