Leaders of the National Union of Teachers’ left-wing faction were said to be tapping their feet to that old Who number, “Won’t get fooled again”, after their candidate secured a surprise win in the election for a new deputy general secretary.
Christine Blower’s election was secured largely because the left put up a single candidate, unlike last summer when it fielded two rivals and was soundly thrashed by new NUT boss Steve Sinnott.
Her victory is a severe setback for Mr Sinnott, who wants to forge a more positive relationship with other teacher unions and end the factionalism that has weakened his own organisation for far too long. Much will now depend on whether his new deputy can work constructively to bring about the unity that the profession as a whole so badly needs from its leaders.
