Burnham met with union leaders to raise support

Andy Burnham is reaching out to union leaders who fund the Labor Party as he looks to drum up support ahead of his expected premiership.

The meeting is being held at the headquarters of Unison, one of 11 unions affiliated with the party, Unison sources told the BBC.

as if Speech on MondayBurnham wants local communities to be given “greater public control over essential services” for the first time since launching his bid to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

The GMB union is expected to raise the issue with Burnham, particularly the ownership of water, as well as British, school support staff and buying equal pay, sources said.

Union endorsement is an important step on the road to becoming a candidate for the Labor leadership.

Burnham announced his intention to stand down shortly after being elected MP for Makersfield. He is the only candidate so far, and if that continues, he could be the next prime minister by July 20.

A major point of contention between some unions and Burnham is the appointment of Ed Miliband as chancellor.

The general secretaries of the Unite and GMB unions – both representing workers in the fossil fuel industry – have campaigned heavily against Miliband over his policies on North Sea oil drilling as energy secretary.

Miliband has repeatedly rejected calls to approve new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea.

GMB general secretary Gary Smith described the government’s net-zero policies on the North Sea oil and gas industries as “shameful and economic madness” and raised Miliband’s chancellorship hopes with Burnham last week, the Financial Times reported.

But Unison general secretary Andrea Egan has backed Miliband for chancellor, the Guardian reports.

Another candidate is Wes Streeting, Sir Keir’s former health secretary, who was reported to have been appointed chancellor by the Burnham government, whose resignation contributed to his defeat.

Electoral reform is among the topics likely to be discussed between Burnham and the unions on Thursday.

Critics have long argued that the first-past-the-post system, which means candidates can be elected with a relatively low number of votes, undermines democracy; But defenders say it’s a significant result and theoretically means a more stable government.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 during the Makersfield by-election campaign for Manchester, Burnham said: “I think the electoral system needs to be reformed to make it less pointless and problem solving.

Eight of the 11 unions have a formal policy for electoral reform.