by Chris McLaughlin
Mike Griffiths, the Unite/Amicus contender for the post of Labour general secretary has pulled out of the contest.
The decision came after Mr Griffiths, who was runner-up earlier this year, failed to get the backing of his union’s joint general secretaries, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, which colleagues say was taken as a personal rebuff.
They are backing Ray Collins, assistant general secretary in the T&G section, who is the clear runner to fill the six-month vacancy when an appointment is made next month and who has the backing of Gordon Brown.
The original appointee, City financier David Pitt-Watson, pulled out after four months and a process that cost the party £50,000 in advertising and consultancy fees. Concern has been raised with party officers over the decision to reopen the appointment process rather than select from the remaining two candidates.
In a statement to Tribune, Mr Griffiths said: “I have decided not to contest the election for the current vacancy of general secretary of the Labour Party.
“Within the NEC clear support from a majority of the Constituency section and the elected representatives and from my trade union colleagues has ensured it has not been an easy decision.
“The party will have been without a general aecretary for over six months and has suffered major damage as a result. A new incoming general secretary will have a mountain of pressing issues that remain unresolved. I remain committed to the party and as a member of the NEC I look forward to working with a general secretary who is capable of making the right choices, putting the needs of the party first, tackling the pressing issues of finance, staff morale, membership disillusionment and decline, probity, transparency and accountability.
“I thank the many friends among the membership and party staff that have given me the strength to travel thus far and my apologies that I could not finish the journey.”
Mr Griffiths has been placed on indefinite gardening leave.
