Postal workers tell Alan Johnson where to post his deputy leadership bid...

Alan Johnson is no longer the favoured son of the Communications Workers Union. In that Union the Conference – representing the membership – has been able to overturn the decision of a smaller Committee to endorse the Deputy Leadership bid of a candidate who stands four square against trade union policies.

In a heated debate at the union’s annual conference in Bournemouth delegate after delegate attacked the decision of the NEC to support the CWU’s former general secretary for the deputy leader’s job. For further details see the CWU website.

That cannot happen in UNISON I fear. No doubt the UNISON Labour Link Committee will wish to explain to Delegate Conference why they support Mr Johnson, though his own Union does not, but they are not required to account to the Conference. We can at least consider at our Conference what to do with our political funds, since there will be a debate.

There is no doubt a debate to be had!