Left-wing Egan elected Unison leader, signaling shift in UK's biggest union

Andrea Egan has been elected as Unison's new leader, in a decision that marks a leftward shift for the country's largest trade union and a political rebuke to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's inner circle. Unison, which represents more than 1.3 million workers in education, local government, the NHS and police, said Egan won just under 60% of the vote in a ballot with turnout well under 100,000.


She will begin her five-year term in January. Egan has pledged to stand up to any employer, politician or cabinet minister who acts against Unison's interests and to hold Labour's feet to the fire, including by refusing to hand the party blank cheques. Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Egan on her victory and paid tribute to Christina McAnea's contributions, citing her role in securing the Employment Rights Bill and a forthcoming fair pay agreement for social care workers.

Egan, who has served as Unison's president since 2022, was expelled from the Labour Party in 2022 for sharing online articles from a Marxist group. During her campaign, she criticized welfare cuts, backed a wealth tax and called for a reversal of austerity in schools and local government. She has said she will not take the full Unison general secretary salary, instead taking the wage of a social worker, and intends to review Unison's relationship with Labour to ensure value for money.

Her victory was welcomed by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his Your Party group, which framed the result as a rejection of austerity. A Your Party spokesperson described Andrea's win as a sign that working-class voters will not accept more cuts.

McAnea's defeat weakens Sir Keir's grip on the party's National Executive Committee, which includes two Unison representatives. Labour sources cautioned that the loss complicates the party's internal balance, though some noted the party has limited options to respond. McAnea was among Starmer's most vocal supporters among trade union leaders and had been close to Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney.

Egan is positioned further left of Labour on issues such as welfare and public services, and the change at Unison could influence how the NEC handles future parliamentary shortlisting and policy stances. Observers say the shift could pressure other large unions to take more outspoken stances against government policy, including USDAW and GMB. Analysts also noted that the NEC's influence on by-election candidacies might become more significant if Unison members push for candidates aligned with left-flank priorities.

The development arrives as Labour faces broader questions about its relationship with unions and how to balance backers' expectations with its governing agenda. Some observers say the turnout underscores member dissatisfaction with the economy and real wage trends, which may feed into union pressure on the government. The next steps for Unison, including how Egan uses the leadership platform and whether she moves to reframe the union's relationship with Labour, will be watched closely by parliament and the wider trade union movement.