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2w ago

Unite Suspends Rayner and Reassesses Labour Funding Link

Labour is conducting discreet outreach to prevent Unite’s withdrawal of its £1.4 million in annual affiliation fees.

Sharon Graham in her office in London: she says the government must “believe in Britain”

Overview

  • On July 11 at its Brighton policy conference, Unite voted overwhelmingly to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s membership and to re-examine its affiliation with Labour.
  • General secretary Sharon Graham has publicly accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner of ignoring the Birmingham bin strike that began in January.
  • The waste dispute has led to tens of thousands of tons of uncollected rubbish, rat infestations and unsanitary conditions across Birmingham.
  • Unite’s £1.4 million yearly contribution is Labour’s largest single union funding source and underpins part of its 2025 recovery plan for the 2026 elections.
  • Unite warns members would support full disaffiliation without stronger worker protections, and Labour aims to secure the alliance before the 2027 rules conference.