GMB general secretary Gary Smith has been re-elected unopposed for a second term to lead the union.
Smith, who was first elected in 2021, first joined the GMB at the age of 16 after completing an apprenticeship as a gas fitter.
After working full-time for the union, he became the GMB’s Scotland Secretary in 2015 and supported Keir Starmer’s leadership bid in 2020.
Several Labour MPs congratulated Smith on his re-election, with Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes describing him as a “tribune for British workers and our manufacturing industries”.
Become a friend of LabourList and join our community. Our friends support our vital non-factional work and get access to exclusive content and events.
Subscribe here to our daily newsletter roundup of Labour news, analysis and comment– and follow us on TikTok, Bluesky, WhatsApp, X and Facebook. You can also write to our editor to share your thoughts on our stories and share your own. The best letters are published every Sunday.
-
- SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour– contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
- SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
- BECOME A FRIEND: If you enjoyed this, why not consider becoming a Friend of LabourList? Help sustain our journalism, and of course Friends do get benefits…
- PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or projects, email [email protected].
- ADVERTISE: If your organisation would like to advertise or run sponsored pieces on LabourList‘s daily newsletter or website, contact our exclusive ad partners Total Politics at [email protected].


More from LabourList
Round up of Burnham’s ministerial appointments
New PM Burnham begins with boldness and ambition for Britain
What do Labour’s MPs and factions want to see from Burnham’s government?