Mayor of Greater Manchester received union donations ahead of potential leadership bid

The Mayor of Greater Manchester received £20,000 in donations from three Labour-affiliated unions between March 24 and April 24. The Fire Brigades Union contributed £10,000 on March 24. The Communication Workers Union donated £5,000 on April 10. Unison provided the final £5,000 on April 24.

The unions had called on the party leader to step aside last Friday and urged the leader to set out a timetable for departure. They stated the leader would be forced out of office at some point.

prior positions Unison represents approximately 1.3 million workers in public services. Its General Secretary stated in December that she was a fan of the mayor and referred to the mayor as King of the North. The mayor did not receive donations from these unions in the two years prior to these contributions.

The most recent donation from Unison is understood to support local election costs rather than a specific campaign.

union support A deputy leader delivered a speech at the Fire Brigades Union annual conference last Saturday. The deputy leader stated that party leadership would not stand in the way of the mayor's second attempt to return to Westminster. The deputy leader was the only member of the party's ruling body to vote in favor of the mayor's candidacy in a February by-election.

The Fire Brigades Union leader has stated that affiliated unions should have input in leadership contests. The Communication Workers Union General Secretary praised the mayor earlier this month and stated the mayor wants to offer real solutions to working people.