[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19753924

A senior union leader has warned the Labour Party it is "unrepresentative" of working people and dominated by a "political elite", ahead of its annual conference this weekend.

The general secretary of the GMB union, Paul Kenny, urged the party to reconnect with workers through policies on jobs, pay and public services.

This follows shadow chancellor Ed Balls' decision to support government curbs on public sector salaries.

The GMB gives Labour about £2m a year.

'Not tenable'

Speaking before the Labour Party conference - which begins in Manchester on Sunday - Mr Kenny said the party would be under pressure to show it could relate to millions of people.

In particular, he said, Mr Balls - who was recently heckled at the TUC Congress for backing pay restraint in the public sector - should be "standing up for the lower paid" and that his speech at the conference would be "an important moment for trade unions".

"I think that Ed Balls's position in relation to a number of things is frankly not tenable with the trade unions.

"You can't talk about solving the problems in the economy by continuing to squeeze down on some of the lowest-paid workers in our society. It's just not feasible."

Mr Kenny said he would be unhappy if anyone in his delegation jeered the shadow chancellor at the upcoming conference, but he added: "If it's no change, I'd advise him against looking for a standing ovation."