Top trade unionist have forewarned Gordon Brown he faces a new attack from the Labour left unless he takes on the 'super-rich' and distances his government from its close relationship with the City and big business.

Brendan Barber, head of the Trades Union Congress, urged Brown to ignore ‘intimidation’ from the City and to levy a windfall tax on energy companies as well as make the very wealthy pay more in tax.

Barber, seen as a moderate in union circles, told the Financial Times he ‘cringed’ when he heard John Hutton, business secretary, calling for the country to celebrate millionaires.

He warned Brown he neglected ‘ordinary people’ at his peril and that the government was not showing the ‘energy and urgency”’ trade unionists would like to help them through the downturn.

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Read the Financial Times