The news is in; the first big trade union has put its backing behind Ed Miliband. The GMB. It’s an important endorsement and will feed the growing feeling that Mili-E could still win through with backing from the unions, grassroots and those vital second preferences.
Only two other unions have similiar clout to the GMB; Unison and the (even bigger) Unite. Of course, each trade union member votes as an individual and can ignore their union’s endorsement. In practice many will follow the lead from the top.
3.03pm: Ed Miliband has confirmed it. He points out that the GMB has 700,000 members.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey