Amicus result confirms changed union mood

The leftward shift of the union movement was confirmed last month by the victory of Derek Simpson in the Amicus AEEU section leadership election.

Simpson, a relative unknown before the contest, beat incumbent Sir Ken Jackson by a hair's breadth which was announced only after four recounts. The final figures announced were 89,521 votes for Simpson and 89,115 for Sir Ken in a 25.4% turn-out.

Sir Ken, who had held the post for six and a half years, was seen as the most right-wing general secretary of a major TUC affiliate and as Tony Blair's strongest supporter. His replacement by the generally left-wing Simpson represents a massive swing of opinion in the union.

Simpson is a Labour Party member and would probably prefer to avoid the tag of being part of the new "awkward squad" - media code for the list of recently elected union leaders who see themselves as more "independent" of the Labour leadership than some of their predecessors.

He said: "I am not saying I will fall out with Blair or the Labour Party - but I am not going to be a blind supporter either." He said he was not proposing to cut funds to the party "but we have a Labour government and we have the worst employment laws in Europe," he told The Guardian.

The election came in the same week as the first nation-wide local council dispute since 1979, a solid Underground strike in the capital and a submission by the TUC pushing for radical improvements in employment legislation.

The developments were greeted with alarm by top bosses' organisation, the Institute of Directors. Its head Ruth Lea said her members were concerned at "the rise in militancy".