A major union joined Angela Rayner stepping up pressure for a Labour lurch to the Left today as the leadership battle gears up.Unison chief Andrea Egan - a self-proclaimed 'fan' of Andy Burnham - linked funding for the party to a 'course change' for more 'progressive' policies.She suggested that included more public sector pay hikes and a U-turn on tough immigration curbs. Meanwhile, in a speech to the union's annual conference in Brighton Ms Rayner insisted that her workers' rights overhaul was 'just the start'. She said the Government had to be 'active and interventionist' to increase wages by tackling 'the vested interests ripping us off'. Political manoeuvring is in full swing as Keir Starmer's grip on power looks to be loosening, with Mr Burnham trying to return to the Commons this week.The Greater Manchester mayor's allies are plotting an immediate bid to oust the PM if he wins the Makerfield by-election. Unison chief Andrea Egan - a self-proclaimed 'fan' of Andy Burnham - hinted that funding for the party would depend on it 'changing course' The intervention comes as Keir Starmer's grip on power looks to be loosening, with Mr Burnham trying to return to the Commons this weekThe markets have been spooked by signs that Mr Burnham could take Labour to the Left with a major spending splurge funded by borrowing and even more tax.He has hinted at wealth taxes, revaluing council tax and called for nationalisations.But Mr Burnham has also executed screeching U-turns on a slew of ideas, including ruling out billions of pounds of compensation for so-called WASPI women just hours after supporting the prospect. Ahead of the UK's biggest union starting its annual gathering, Ms Egan complained about 'handing money over to the Labour Party and getting absolutely nothing in return'.She told the BBC: 'When Labour came into power there was a sense of relief. But sadly we've been left wanting. Communities are really struggling.'It isn't us that will hand the keys to No10 to Reform – it's them, unless they change course. And drastically.'They've got to start introducing progressive policies. Investment in infrastructure, pay restoration, better services, insourcing.'They need to ensure that they deliver on promises they made when they came into government.'She pointed to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans to extend how long it takes immigrants working in the care sector to get settlement rights. 'I want this scrapped now,' she said. Ms Egan was elected general secretary of Unison in December 2025 having pledged to launch a review of the union's relationship with Labour. She previously said she was a 'fan' of Mr Burnham, praising him as the 'King of the North' and criticising Sir Keir's efforts to stop him standing in a by-election. Ms Egan was expelled from Labour in 2022 for sharing articles from Socialist Appeal, a group that was proscribed by the party – a decision she appealed during the campaign.She said Your Party – set up by former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana – offered an opportunity to 'give Labour a warning' about the need to change.In her speech, Ms Rayner - who is widely thought to have formed an alliance with Mr Burnham - said: 'Let's be honest, I'm under no illusions that people are queuing up to thank us.'People have turned to populists and nationalists because for all we have done, it has not been enough to fix the crisis they face.'They are impatient for change. So are you, and so am I. Living standards are barely higher than they were a decade and a half ago.'Growth isn't just low, it also fails to benefit most people, places and businesses.'Yet when people have more to spend in their local high streets, businesses have higher revenues; in turn, they can hire more workers, and a community prospers.'That is not just morally right but economically too.'She said the test for Labour was to show it could run a government that delivers by standing up to 'the vested interests ripping us off'.'Because for too long, Britain has been on the wrong path. A path that has damaged communities and drained away power from ordinary people.'Once again, working-class people are paying the price for decisions they did not make and crises they did not cause.'She won applause by saying that the Employment Rights Act was the first step in the Government's plan to Make Work Pay.'Now is the time to take the next steps, starting – but not ending – with a fair pay agreement in social care.'A new partnership approach, driving up standards, improving training and, as a former home help, let me say tackling issues like travel time as well.'Because fairness means enforcing the rules not ripping them up; people who follow those rules and contribute to our society should be able to trust the system in which they work.'That is why it is time for a sector-wide visa too – not just to empower those giving care, but support those receiving it.'She said migrant care workers were 'trapped' in a system that does not protect them.'It is the same problem we see across the economy. It is why we need an active, interventionist government to promote good jobs that pay decent wages.'Sir Keir's position has been further weakened by the chaos over defence funding, which saw John Healey quit the Cabinet last week accusing him of not keeping the country safe. The Greater Manchester mayor's allies are plotting an immediate bid to oust the PM if he wins the Makerfield by-electionIn order to secure the keys to No10 without a Labour contest, Mr Burnham would need to persuade potential rivals such as Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Al Carns not to stand. Under one plan touted by his allies, more than 100 Labour MPs would come out on Friday morning to call on Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure from No 10.A letter would also be circulated to gather signatures – 81 backbenchers are required to fall behind an individual candidate in order to trigger a leadership contest. The MPs hope the letter will be accompanied by further ministerial resignations all the way up to Cabinet level if Sir Keir still refuses to stand aside.