Unite boss accuses Angela Rayner of ‘totally and utterly abhorrent’ behaviour as clash with Labour escalates
Tensions escalate between Labour and major financial backer
- Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham criticised Angela Rayner's "utterly abhorrent" conduct regarding the Birmingham bin strike, accusing her of aiding "fire and rehire" tactics.
- Unite is considering ending its long affiliation with the Labour Party, with Graham stating the £1.5m annual payment is "hard to justify" and members voted to re-examine their relationship.
- Rayner's allies countered that she resigned from Unite in April and would not be "pushed around," with a Labour source adding Unite rejected a deal that would have undermined equal pay.
- Graham disputed Rayner's resignation timeline, suggesting she was still a member when seeking election funds and may have recently tried to leave the union.
- The bin strike began over Birmingham City Council's plan to remove waste recycling roles, potentially costing 170 workers up to £8,000 annually, with talks to resolve the dispute having broken down.