Boss of Labour's biggest trade union donor says it's 'inevitable' Keir Starmer will be replaced as leader in scathing attack on 'failing' PM
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, delivered a scathing attack on the 'failing' Prime Minister as she warned Britain had been left 'rudderless'.
By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: 09:07 GMT, 30 December 2025 | Updated: 09:29 GMT, 30 December 2025
The boss of Labour's biggest trade union donor has claimed it's 'inevitable' Sir Keir Starmer will be replaced as the party's leader.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, delivered a scathing attack on the 'failing' Prime Minister as she warned Britain had been left 'rudderless'.
But she also issued a warning to those hoping to replace Sir Keir by saying the country's 'doom loop' cannot be broken by pursuing 'the same policies'.
Ms Graham declined to give an endorsement of any of the leading candidates to take over from Sir Keir and claimed the Government was on the path to 'destruction'.
She said Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting or Ed Miliband won't win back support for Labour 'if they are just offering more of the same in a different voice'.
The Unite boss singled out Mr Miliband by claiming his Net Zero agenda is economic 'self-harm' as she urged the Government to change course.
She also called on ministers to increase borrowing for investment, introduce a wealth tax on the 'mega-rich', and use more of the defence budget to buy from British arms manufacturers.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, delivered a scathing attack on the 'failing' Prime Minister as she warned Britain had been left 'rudderless'
The trade union boss also issued a warning to those hoping to replace Sir Keir Starmer by saying the country's 'doom loop' cannot be broken by pursuing 'the same policies'
Unite is still one of Labour's major donors despite the deteriorating relationship between the trade union and the party's leadership.
It has more than a million members and helps bankroll Labour through affiliation fees.
Ms Graham has been a frequent critic of Sir Keir and refused to endorse Labour's manifesto ahead of the 2024 general election.
Sir Keir suffered a blow earlier this month when Andrea Egan, a fellow left-wing critic of the PM, was elected as general secretary of Unison - one of Labour's other major trade union backers.
Ms Egan's victory could deprive Sir Keir of crucial backing on the party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).
It might also put at risk Unison's wider support for Labour, with Ms Egan having promised a 'comprehensive review' of the union's relationship with the party.