LABOUR must “get a spine” and back working people, Unite’s Sharon Graham demanded today, as unions warned of a wave of national strikes this autumn amid the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

The union’s general secretary, who marked the first anniversary of her election as leader at the weekend, said the party needs to provide a strong message that it stands up for people seeking pay rises from profiteering bosses.

The call came after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was slammed for imposing a ban on his frontbenchers attending picket lines during Britain’s “summer of discontent,” with unions and Labour’s left accusing him of kowtowing to right-wing newspapers.