Does Keir Starmer care about unions?

At this year’s Trade Union Congress (TUC), Keir Starmer broke with tradition by not attending the congress himself, instead sending Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to address delegates. For many in the hall, this felt like “a bit of a slap in the face”, and a symbolic absence.

We spoke with John McDonnell, who reminded us that without the unions there would be no Labour Party. Mick Lynch, former RMT General Secretary, and current RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey also shared their concerns, criticising Labour for drifting away from its working-class roots and accepting donations from big business. Others warned that watering down the Employment Rights Bill could prove disastrous, risking the party’s relationship with millions of workers.

Some union leaders argued Labour must be challenged from within; others questioned whether continued affiliation even makes sense. Delegates voiced fears that the party has become “more conservative” and disconnected from ordinary people’s struggles.

As the Labour government faces mounting pressure, the voices on the congress floor ask whether Starmer’s leadership risks alienating the very movement that built the party. Can Labour still claim to represent working people? Or is it now more concerned with business than workers?

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