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Keir Starmer’s first proper conference as Labour leader this weekend risks being overshadowed by his unpopular attempt to rewrite internal rules.
The party will today try to show how it would improve the lives of millions of people, announcing ‘fair pay agreements’ to guarantee minimum wages and conditions for workers in key sectors, starting with social care.
But on the eve of the first in-person annual conference since before the pandemic, Sir Keir was still in talks with union barons over his bid to reduce the power of ordinary members to elect future leaders.
He was hoping they would back his plan, paving the way for it to be put to the party faithful in Brighton today.
Uneasy alliance: Keir Starmer's first proper conference as Labour leader this weekend risks being overshadowed by his unpopular attempt to rewrite internal rules as his deputy Angela Rayner (pictured together) also opposes it
Sir Keir was hit by a backlash from major union bosses and Left-wing MPs on Wednesday. Insiders said his first attempt to secure agreement on his plan had been a ‘car crash’ and a ‘mauling’.
And he suffered another blow yesterday after it emerged that his ambitious deputy Angela Rayner also opposes the return of the ‘electoral college’.
This system would scrap the one-member-one-vote rules that led to a landslide win for Jeremy Corbyn, instead giving greater weight to MPs and unions.
According to The Guardian, Mrs Rayner has
