Train drivers’ union to vote on cutting ties with Labour

TRAIN drivers’ union Aslef is poised to cut ties with the Labour Party, in a fresh blow to Sir Keir Starmer and threatening to end a relationship that stretches back more than 120 years.

A motion will be tabled at Aslef ’s conference in May to disaffiliate from Labour as Sir Keir faces a backlash from union activists over taking the party to the centre ground.

Sir Keir has sought to shift Labour away from the Left-wing regime under Jeremy Corbyn. He insisted he would not be “influenced by threats” after Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, threatened to cut funding to the party after a row over support for bin workers.

A union source said: “There is growing disenchantment within Aslef over what Keir has done. A lot of people don’t feel the love [from him]. He hasn’t bothered to shake hands and press the flesh.”

Meanwhile, union insiders said Aslef members were aggrieved at Sir Keir’s team of advisers.

“The people around Keir like [head of political organising] Matt Pound are inept in the extreme. They’ve been quite hapless,” a source said.

A spokesman for Aslef said: “This is a matter for our annual conference and our delegates will make the decision.”