The boss of Unite, Labour’s biggest union funder, has threatened to break its link with the party unless it changes direction.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the union, told Sky News that, on the eve of a crucial party conference for the prime minister, Unite‘s support for Labour was hanging in the balance.

She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “My members, whether it’s public sector workers all the way through to defence, are asking, ‘What is happening here?’

“Now when that question cannot be answered, when we’re effectively saying, ‘Look, actually we cannot answer why we’re still affiliated’, then absolutely I think our members will choose to disaffiliate and that time is getting close.”

Asked when that decision might be made, she cited the budget, on 26 November, as “an absolutely critical point of us knowing whether direction is going to change”.

Ms Graham, who became leader in 2021, has been a long-time critic of Sir Keir Starmer‘s agenda, accusing him of lacking vision.

The union has campaigned against his decision to cut winter fuel allowance for pensioners – which was later reversed – and has called for more taxes on the wealthy.

But the firm threat to disaffiliate, and a timetable, highlights the acute trouble Sir Keir faces on multiple fronts, after a rocky few months which have seen his popularity plummet in the polls and his administration hit by resignations and scandals.

There is now open discussion about his leadership, with Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, claiming he’s been urged by MPs to mount a challenge.

Unite has more than a million members, the second-largest union affiliated to Labour. It donates £1.5m a year from its membership fees to the party.

The union did not make an additional donation to Labour at the last election – as it has done previously – but was the biggest donor to its individual MPs and candidates. It has donated millions to the party in the past.

Any decision to disaffiliate would need to be made at a Unite rules conference; of which the next is scheduled for 2027, but there is the option to convene emergency conferences earlier.

Just 15 months into Sir Keir’s premiership, in which he has promised to champion workers’ rights, Ms Graham’s comments are likely to anger the Labour leadership.

Read more: Now is moment of ‘maximum danger’ for Starmer, Harriet Harman warns

Unite, earlier this year, voted to suspend former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner of her union membership because of the government’s handling of a long-running bin strike in Birmingham.

Ms Graham has described the left-wing party being launched by Jeremy Corbyn as a “sideshow” and has brushed off speculation of a leadership challenge by Mr Burnham.

This summer, she said if Unite dropped support from Labour it would “focus on building a strong, independent workers’ union that was the true, authentic voice for workers”.

The annual Labour Party conference kicks off in Liverpool from Sunday.

As a union affiliated with Labour, Unite has seats on the party’s ruling national executive committee and can send delegates to its annual conference.

Watch the full interview with Sharon Graham on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips from 8.30am on Sky News

England have been crowned Women’s Rugby World Cup champions for the third time after crushing Canada 33-13.

Two tries by Alex Matthews, plus one each from Ellie Kildunne, Amy Cokayne and Abbie Ward sealed it for the Red Roses.

England, ranked as the world number one going into the match, were ahead by 13 points by the end of the first half – as they played in front of a record-breaking home crowd of 81,885 at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, west London.

Canada mounted a spirited effort in the second half, but a decent spell of pressure was cut off when Matthews scored her second try of the afternoon.

A conversion took the Red Roses to 33 points, giving them a comfortable 20 point lead over the Maple Leafs.

The win marks the first time England won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 11 years, after losing finals in 2017 and 2022.

Among the first to congratulate the Red Roses were the Prince and Princess of Wales, who also praised Canada and said: “You had an outstanding tournament. Both teams should be so proud!”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also praised the team and said: “You have shown the very best of England and inspired a generation.”

After watching the game with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, London’s mayor Sir Sadiq Khan posted a photo of the pair while congratulating England.

“Huge congratulations to (the Red Roses) on their fantastic victory,” he said, “another proud moment for women’s rugby.”

‘Pinch me moment’

Speaking to the BBC after being named player of the match, England’s 23-year-old flanker Sadia Kabeya said: “It’s a pinch me moment. It’s been years and years in the making, I am so happy we could pull it off.

“All props to Canada they are a great side and they put up a great fight here today.”

Ward also told the broadcaster: “Honestly as soon as the whistle went I just burst into tears. It’s truly been such a special day. A sold-out crowd at Twickenham. It was electric, in front of friends, family, it’s amazing.

“The last final loss, that was then. This is a new team, this is a new chapter of women’s rugby.”

Read more from Sky News:
Prince of Wales says 2024 was ‘hardest year’ of his life
Unite threatens to break link with Labour
Nuno Espirito Santo made new West Ham head coach

Headed into the final, the Red Roses were on a 32-game winning streak and won their seventh straight Six Nations title back in April.

England also won every one of their matches in the World Cup group stages, then secured victories over Scotland and France in the quarter and semi-finals, respectively.

It also marked the second-ever Rugby World Cup final for Canada, ranked second in the world behind England.

But despite their world ranking, Canada’s women’s team had to partly fund their way to the tournament.

A crowdfunding page under the name Mission: Win Rugby World Cup 2025 raised nearly $1m (£534,000) to help cover the costs of sending the team to England.

There are plenty of electric fat tire bikes on the market these days, but few feel as purpose-built and refined as the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro. While the name might sound like a friendly pooch, don’t let it fool you… this is a serious all-terrain machine with enough power to rip through sand, snow, or steep trails. Plus, if it can do all that, it can surely handle your commute, too!

Built for the wild (and the wild commute)

Right out of the gate, the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro feels like it’s aimed at a very specific type of rider – someone who wants the capability of an electric mountain bike, the stability of a fat tire cruiser, and the commuting chops of a Class 3 bike built for the streets.

That hybrid identity is reflected in the bike’s rugged 6061 aluminum frame, which includes internal cable routing for a clean look and a removable 48V 20Ah lithium-ion battery nestled into the downtube. The battery is locking and removable, offering a massive 960Wh of capacity. It claims up to 80 miles of range per charge under optimal conditions.

That’s quite respectable for a nearly 1 kWh battery powering a peak 1,350W hub motor!

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Custom-motor muscle with real torque

Puckipuppy’s Labrador Pro isn’t running just any hub motor. This one’s a custom PUCKIPUPPY-branded unit, and it cranks out a claimed 1,350W of peak power. In addition to an extra helping of wattage, this thing delivers serious torque, and it delivers it instantly.

Thanks to the smart torque sensor, the motor responds immediately to how hard you’re pedaling. You don’t get that jarring “kick” from cadence-sensor bikes. Instead, the assist feels intuitive and fluid, even when climbing steep dirt paths or rolling over beach dunes.

It’s the kind of responsive pedaling experience that makes you forget you’re even riding an electric bike, at least until you realize you’re doing a solid 25 mph while barely breaking a sweat.

Suspension and traction dialed in

One of the standout features of the Labrador Pro is its full-suspension setup, which instantly sets it apart from most fat tire e-bikes in this price range. Up front, you’ve got a sturdy hydraulic suspension fork with 130mm of travel, while the rear features its own shock that smooths out bumps, roots, and rough terrain. Whether rolling over rocky trails or dropping curbs in the city, the dual suspension keeps the ride comfortable and under control.

That plush suspension pairs perfectly with the bike’s 26” x 4” all-terrain fat tires, which offer a massive contact patch and plenty of cushion. The bike can float over sand, gravel, and even loose pine-needle trails with zero drama. These tires aren’t limited to only off-road performance either. On pavement, they give the Labrador Pro a smooth, stable feel, especially when aired up to road pressure.

And when it comes time to slow things down, the 180mm hydraulic disc brakes give you reliable, confidence-inspiring stopping power, even on fast descents or in wet conditions.

Drivetrain and speed

Backing up the torque-heavy motor is a Shimano 8-speed drivetrain, which shifts smoothly and gives you enough range to ride comfortably even without assist. That’s especially nice when your battery gets low, or when you want to dial down the motor to extend your range on a long ride.

The Labrador Pro is also a Class 3 e-bike, meaning it provides pedal assist up to 28 mph. There’s also a left-side thumb throttle that can get you moving without pedaling at all, and it’s zippy – topping out around 20 mph on throttle alone. Combined, these modes make the Labrador Pro equally useful as a car-replacing commuter or a weekend trail shredder.

Looks and utility of the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro

The Puckipuppy Labrador Pro comes in four different colors, though the orange option here is definitely the brightest and the most fun, at least in our opinion. No matter your color, the integrated headlight and rear brake light are a nice touch for safety to help you be seen, especially for early morning or dusk rides.

It also includes front and rear fenders, which help when you’re splashing through mud or wet pavement, and a heavy-duty rear cargo rack. Plus, the bike supports up to 400 lb of payload. That makes this bike more than just a toy – it’s also a workhorse capable of hauling groceries, gear, or just about anything you can throw at it.

The full-color LCD display mounted on the handlebars gives you real-time readouts of speed, battery level, distance, and assist level. The control pad on the left is intuitive, and gives you all the info you need at a glance.

Final thoughts on the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro

The Puckipuppy Labrador Pro is a seriously capable all-terrain e-bike with great specs at a competitive price of just $1,599. For riders who want a go-anywhere, do-anything machine with torque-sensing pedal assist, fat tires, and real power under the hood, this is a compelling option.

It’s not the cheapest fat tire e-bike out there, but you don’t want the cheapest bike when you’re barrelling down a rocky trail. And when you consider the powerful motor, torque sensor, 960Wh battery, hydraulic brakes, and full commuter-ready features like fenders and a rack, it starts to look like a solid value.

Whether you’re carving through mountain trails, powering across sandy beaches, or just blasting past traffic on your way to work, the Labrador Pro brings its A game every time.