Starmer has hired as Downing Street’s “Director of Trade Union Relations“, you guessed it, a top trade union official. Claire Stewart, a former Unison organiser and key aide to general secretary Christina McAnea, is taking up the role. Stewart is deeply embedded in Unison’s architecture – her mother was formerly head of press and broadcasting for the union…
Stewart also used to work as chief of staff for suspended shadow minister Bambos Charalambous, and was allegedly involved in secret wrangling over Unison General Secretary leadership bids in 2017. Maybe Unison were aware that one of their own was heading into No 10 when they suddenly ramped up calls during the campaign for “the right to a four-day work week for all” and rejected competitive pay offers. This will go well…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”