Labour’s Biggest Affiliate Trade Union Suspends Angela Rayner

The trade union Unite suspended Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and announced plans to “re-examine” the relationship with Labour, portending a split between the UK’s governing party and one of its historically biggest funders.

Unite voted at its policy conference on Friday to suspend Rayner for her role in a dispute over bin collection strikes gripping the city of Birmingham. The union also passed a motion saying it would “discuss its relationship with Labour,” if the redundancy process for bin workers is pushed through.