There never was any plan for all three mainly classroom unions, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and the National Union of Teachers, to share a platform at the Labour party conference last month.

Having invited David Blunkett to address the NASUWT fringe meeting, we were informed that pressure on his time was so intense that he could not address single union gatherings every year.

We understood this pressure on David Blunkett’s time, particularly with the merger of the employment and education portfolios. Accordingly, we were pleased to have Peter Kilfoyle at our fringe meeting where he spoke extremely well.

EAMONN O’KANE Deputy general secretary NASUWT 5 King Street London WC2