It was a slightly surreal experience last night writing a blog about Charlie Whelan leaving Unite when he had utterly denied it point-blank. Normally denial equals no story, for obvious reasons.
But last night Whelan put out a Twitter late admitting that indeed he was quitting and would be writing a book. Yes, another bibliographical re-examination of the New Labour corpse.
Well done Jim Pickard at the FT for working out this is my last TUC as I’m off fishing after the Labour Conf’. My book will reveal all!
My new intel is that Unite are talking to Joe Irvin as a potential successor as the union’s main political director. Irvin’s last job was political secretary to Gordon Brown within Downing Street. Before that he worked as an adviser to John Prescott and at BAA, the airports group.
UPDATE (16th September)
Unite have been in touch at the convenient hour of 8.30pm to say: “No decision has been made by Unite regarding a replacement for Charlie Whelan, nor will be in the near future. Reports to the contrary are misleading and inappropriate.”
Except that I wrote that the union was talking to him about being a potential successor. This they do not deny at all.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey
