Blair supporter ousted in union upset

Sir Ken Jackson, Tony Blair's key supporter in the union movement,. was today ousted as leader of Britain's second biggest union.

Left–wing official Derek Simpson beat Sir Ken in a stunning ballot result that put him ahead, after four recounts, by just 406 votes.

Mr Simpson is now officially the new general secretary of manufacturing union Amicus in what amounts to a shock defeat for Sir Ken, aged 65, a loyal supporter of the Government who has been close to the Prime Minister since Labour returned to power.

Mr Simpson polled 89,521 votes to Sir Ken's 89,115. There were 459 spoilt ballot papers – including 75 who voted for both candidates.

The returning officer's report will be presented to the union's executive council this afternoon.

Mr Simpson, aged 57, lives in Sheffield, and was an apprentice in a local engineering firm before he became involved in the engineering union.

He was appointed the union's Sheffield district secretary in 1981.

A former member of the Communist Party, for the past 10 years he has been a member of the Labour Party, although he pointed out that he was not a Blairite.

The prospect of Sir Ken losing his job has shaken the Government and has been described by some MPs as an "earthquake".

Amicus has over a million members in manufacturing and is the country's second biggest union.