Union targets Rayner as Labour row grows

Angela Rayner made clear yesterday that she would not be "pushed around" by the leading Labour trade union, Unite, after it voted to suspend her membership and rethink its ties with the party.

- Rowena Mason Jessica Murray

The deputy prime minister was targeted for censure by the union over her role in the continuing Birmingham bin strike, although party sources said Rayner had resigned her membership of Unite months ago.

The motion passed at Unite's policy conference is a sign of how bad relations have become between Labour and its historically largest trade union donor over the dispute about pay and conditions, which the union says would impose pay cuts of £8,000 on some Birmingham workers.

It is also an escalation of wider tensions between the party and Unite, one of the most leftwing affiliated unions, which has been campaigning against the winter fuel allowance and disability benefit cuts.

Unite's move against Rayner appeared to be largely symbolic, and took place as the deputy prime minister and her cabinet colleagues were at Keir Starmer's official country residence, Chequers, for an away day to look at the political year ahead.

However, the threat to cut or further reduce financial ties with Labour could be deeply damaging for the party at a time when it needs to maintain healthy funds to fight off the threats of Reform and the Conservatives. Unite gave about £2m to Labour in the year before the election.

Rayner, who is still a member of Unison, is considered an ally of the trade unions within Labour and pushed through the party's package of workers' rights in the face of opposition from big business.

A party source said: "Angela's not interested in silly stunts, she's interested in changing workers' lives. Unite rejected a deal in Birmingham and their demands would have undermined equal pay, discriminating against female workers.

"Angela won't be pushed around, and she quit Unite some months ago.