Brown must dump Collins for GS idea to rebuild authority

Gordon Brown's political authority is inextricably linked to the future of the Labour Party itself. The latest issue of Tribune reports that Britain's largest union Unite's leaders Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson have thrown their weight behind assistant-general secretary Ray Collins, who has also won the support of No. 10. Shame on both Woodley and Simpson, if this is true, for throwing their own reputations as advocates of equal opportunities recruitment processes out of the window as well as that of the union they have created. If Gordon Brown has any regard for his own reputation he will put a stop to this nonsense forthwith.

If by any chance there are some financial strings attached to the cosy deal, it will not belong before some newshound exposes them, and Brown's tattered reputation will be shot completely.

I set my views out about the process here. Whatever differences I have with Mike Griffiths, over the way as chair of the NEC last year he handled Brown's proposals on Extending and Renewing Party Democracy they pale into insignificance compared with the way that first David Pitt-Watson and now Mike himself have been treated by No 10 political staff and some NEC members. They were both deemed appointable in an equal ops recruitment process, Pitt-Watson withdrew. Mike should be offered the job, unless the NEC can come up with an water-tight legal case not to offer him the post. I hope Mike stands his ground, and Brown backs him. After all Brown sat through the whole interview panel in March, so he must know the process was beyond reproach.