Labour leader Ed Miliband faced stark warnings yesterday that only radical policies can save his party following the dangerous plunge toward a weaker relationship with the unions.

Leading labour movement figures were sharply divided over plans for sweeping organisational changes, which include asking trade unionists to "opt in" individually as affiliated party members.

But trade union leaders and left MPs united in warning that without radical policies the party is likely to face financial crisis and the threat of defeat at the next election.