Word reaches me that Laurence Faircloth, south-west regional officer for Unite, has dropped out of the battle to be joint head of Britain’s biggest union. Apparently he has thrown his lot in with Derek Simpson, the embattled encumbent.
Jerry Hicks, one of the remaining three challengers, suggests that the branches which backed Faircloth won’t necessarily follow his move, which may be an attempt to “save his own skin”* in case Simpson wins.
* I’d ask Faircloth but he isn’t returning calls
UPDATE
From more on the Unite saga it’s worth reading this blog from Rene Lavanchy, who has very good contacts deep within the union movement.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey