REBEL North-East MPs must “put the brakes” on Ed Miliband if he tries to take Labour to the right, a union chief said today (Tuesday).

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said a group of regional MPs – who have spoken out against a welfare cap and ‘workfare’ – had a “crucial role to play”.

The comment came as Mr McCluskey suggested Unite could end its backing for Labour by disaffiliating, unless the party showed it was “the voice” for working people.

Warning Mr Miliband’s leadership was “at a crossroads”, he said: “I can envisage a debate taking place [on affiliation] if Labour lost the election next May.”

Speaking at a Westminster lunch, Mr McCluskey also:

  •  Urged Mr Miliband to be bold – warning he would lose the election if he offered voters only a “pale shade of austerity”.
  •  Warned David Cameron was wrong to believe portraying unions as the “enemy within” was a vote winner – insisting the country had moved on from the 1970s.
  • Described his relationship with Mr Miliband as “okay”, adding: “I wouldn’t say it was close.”
  • Called for a £1.50 increase in the minimum wage and referenda on returning the railways and energy companies to public ownership.
  • Slammed a Government-commissioned review of union tactics during industrial tactics – when Britain already had “the most draconian laws in Europe”.
  • Claimed the interests of the City of London had “captured every political party to one degree or another”.

Asked if he could envisage disaffiliation, Mr McCluskey said: “I can do. This is a watershed. Labour consistently has to demonstrate that it is our voice.

“I fear for the future of the Labour party, so these are serious debates and, at this point in time in our history, we have to consider all those issues.”

Last week, North-East MPs including Grahame Morris (Easington), Ian Mearns (Gateshead) and Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) all attacked Labour support for an overall welfare cap.

And, last year, six of the region’s MPs defied Mr Miliband’s orders by voting against compulsory unpaid work experience, or ‘workfare’.

Such strong stances by left-wing MPs suggest the Labour leader – if he wins power with a small majority – will find it difficult to force through controversial measures.

Asked about Labour rebels, Mr McCluskey said: “They may need to band together to be strong enough to stand up to the whips because - while discipline is important - principle is also important.

“If those principles that you operate on are being broken, then you have a right and a duty to oppose your own party.

“Those honourable members from the North-East and others will be crucial in a future Labour Government to put the skids and brakes on them.”