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Angela Rayner’s resignation has set off a chain reaction that is undermining Labour – and Keir Starmer has nobody to blame but himself.
At the TUC conference, general secretary Paul Nowak urged the Labour government to prove “whose side it is on” – warning that the promise of change made at the general election has yet to become “a lived reality”.
He demanded the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, funded by wealth taxes.
Unite’s Sharon Graham went further, telling the BBC that her members could soon vote to sever their historic link with Labour – costing the party around £1.3 million a year.
“If that vote was today, I think they’d vote to disaffiliate,” she warned, adding that Reform UK would benefit most if Labour failed to improve people’s living standards.
Christina McAnea of Unison cautioned that watering down the Employment Rights Bill – Angela Rayner’s flagship workers’ rights package – would be a “huge mistake”.
The bill, still moving through Parliament, promises protections against unfair dismissal and a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts. Labour insists it remains committed, but the sacking of employment minister Justin Madders has fuelled union fears.
From the north, Andy Burnham has expressed concern about the “balance” of Starmer’s reshuffled cabinet.
He said Rayner’s exit should trigger a debate about Labour’s internal management and called for a deputy leader from the north of England to counter “London-centricity”.
He criticised the leadership’s treatment of MPs who opposed policies on winter fuel and disability benefits, warning that “good people” like Rachael Maskell should not lose the whip for speaking up.
Emily Thornberry, eyeing a run for deputy leader herself, told the BBC the party must stop making “mistakes” or risk “handing our country to Nigel Farage”. She insisted the deputy leadership contest must be about what candidates can bring to the job, not simply geography.
Meanwhile, Labour MPs are already jostling for the deputy leadership, with names from across the spectrum being touted – including cabinet ministers like Lisa Nandy and left-wingers like Richard Burgon and Nadia Whittome.
The Guardian is reporting anxiety among Labour MPs that the reshuffle promoted figures from the party’s right, reinforcing “groupthink” rather than broadening the government’s base.
One senior source said: “It’s clear from this reshuffle they aren’t interested in listening” – echoing concerns raised by Emily Thornberry yesterday (September 7, 2025).
Starmer’s allies say the changes are about “delivery, delivery, delivery”.
But if Labour alienates both its trade union backers and its own members, what exactly is it delivering – and to whom?
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Labour face turmoil as unions and senior figures warn Starmer over reshuffle
Share this post:
Angela Rayner’s resignation has set off a chain reaction that is undermining Labour – and Keir Starmer has nobody to blame but himself.
At the TUC conference, general secretary Paul Nowak urged the Labour government to prove “whose side it is on” – warning that the promise of change made at the general election has yet to become “a lived reality”.
He demanded the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, funded by wealth taxes.
Unite’s Sharon Graham went further, telling the BBC that her members could soon vote to sever their historic link with Labour – costing the party around £1.3 million a year.
“If that vote was today, I think they’d vote to disaffiliate,” she warned, adding that Reform UK would benefit most if Labour failed to improve people’s living standards.
Christina McAnea of Unison cautioned that watering down the Employment Rights Bill – Angela Rayner’s flagship workers’ rights package – would be a “huge mistake”.
The bill, still moving through Parliament, promises protections against unfair dismissal and a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts. Labour insists it remains committed, but the sacking of employment minister Justin Madders has fuelled union fears.
From the north, Andy Burnham has expressed concern about the “balance” of Starmer’s reshuffled cabinet.
He said Rayner’s exit should trigger a debate about Labour’s internal management and called for a deputy leader from the north of England to counter “London-centricity”.
He criticised the leadership’s treatment of MPs who opposed policies on winter fuel and disability benefits, warning that “good people” like Rachael Maskell should not lose the whip for speaking up.
Emily Thornberry, eyeing a run for deputy leader herself, told the BBC the party must stop making “mistakes” or risk “handing our country to Nigel Farage”. She insisted the deputy leadership contest must be about what candidates can bring to the job, not simply geography.
Meanwhile, Labour MPs are already jostling for the deputy leadership, with names from across the spectrum being touted – including cabinet ministers like Lisa Nandy and left-wingers like Richard Burgon and Nadia Whittome.
The Guardian is reporting anxiety among Labour MPs that the reshuffle promoted figures from the party’s right, reinforcing “groupthink” rather than broadening the government’s base.
One senior source said: “It’s clear from this reshuffle they aren’t interested in listening” – echoing concerns raised by Emily Thornberry yesterday (September 7, 2025).
Starmer’s allies say the changes are about “delivery, delivery, delivery”.
But if Labour alienates both its trade union backers and its own members, what exactly is it delivering – and to whom?
Share this post:
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