Not the brightest candle on the cake

The far-Left Corbynite ready to turn the biggest union against Starmer

Even before being elected general secretary of Unison, Britain’s biggest public sector trade union, Andrea Egan was known for being a scourge of fat-cat bosses. Not just at Bolton Council, where she is a social worker and union rep, but at Unison itself, where her campaign video last year railed against the £181,000 salary of the incumbent, Christina McAnea...

She formally takes office today (Thursday, Jan 22), having vowed to hold Labour’s “feet to the fire” over public sector pay – although just how much of a mandate she really has is another matter. Only 7 per cent of Unison’s 1.4 million members took part in the vote that got her to power, meaning that her militant approach has the direct endorsement of just four per cent...

Councillors across the political spectrum in Bolton describe Egan as approachable and down to earth, despite a somewhat “formidable” reputation. “She’s very vociferous in her politics but she doesn’t make it personal or unpleasant,” says one Conservative on the authority, run by a minority Labour administration...

However, another Bolton councillor, who had been involved in negotiations with Egan over staffing issues, says she can be stubborn...

“Egan is likeable and prepared to listen, but she never struck me as the brightest candle on the cake – I’m amazed she’s now running a union at national level.”

Keir Starmer must be looking forward to the challenge. Sounds as if it's going to be "front line services" battling against low pay and underfunding on behalf of our deprived communities again.

All very Labour.