by Chris McLaughlin

A second attempt to install a Downing Street-anointed candidate as Labour’s general secretary is to be made following the withdrawal of David Pitt-Watson.

Ray Collins, assistant general secretary of the union Unite, emerged as a runner early this week after the City financier’s announcement the day after the local election poll.

The surprise appearance of Mr Collins in the ring has provoked tension within the union and is expected to lead to a row over procedure for choosing a new general secretary.

Mike Griffiths of the Amicus section of Unite, and who was runner-up to Mr Pitt-Watson two months ago, said as Tribune went to press, that he remained determined to stand for the job.

There has been no official confirmation of Unite’s support for either candidate, but insiders say Mr Collins has the backing of both joint general secretaries, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, and that Mr Griffiths is to be offered a “very genererous payoff” to back out.

Mr Griffiths was offered lucrative job opportunities by Gordon Brown as a reward for withdrawing from the race but refused.  His supporters claim that Downing Street is behind an attempted fait accompli to block Mr Griffiths because of his publicly avowed intention to “stand up for the party”.

Supporters of Mr Collins, who was the Blairite candidate in the contest before this, argue that Mr Griffiths lost last time, cannot win again and that Mr Collins would be a “unity” candidate who could be in place quickly.

But a row is looming over the appointment process and a decision by party officers to postpone this month’s NEC meeting till early next month.