Sir Bill's union successor vetoes £63,000 car in retirement package
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An attempt by Sir Bill Morris to take a £63,000 luxury car as part of his union retirement package has been vetoed by senior colleagues.
Sir Bill, who is standing down as leader of the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G), ordered a top-of-the-range Jaguar to be paid for out of union members' subscriptions and to be delivered as he left the organisation.
However union officers including Tony Woodley, the incoming general secretary, found out about the planned purchase and decided it should be blocked.
It is thought the vehicle in question was the Jaguar XJR which has a 4.2 litre supercharged V8 engine - a car that accelerates from 0-60mph in just over five seconds and has a top speed of 155mph.
The "basic model" - one of the most technically advanced vehicles on the road - retails at about £58,500, but it is understood that "extras" had been required. The "gas-guzzling" saloon covers 26 miles to the gallon and is therefore not considered to be environmentally friendly.
General secretaries of the T&G are allowed to take their company cars with them into retirement, but some sources said that Sir Bill's vehicle had been due to be replaced in May, but the purchase was postponed. His detractors believe he wanted the vehicle to have zero union miles on the clock. It is known that senior figures in the union were deeply angry about the price.
One of Sir Bill's allies said the general secretary had chosen to lease his existing car and claim the cost back from the union. "When he retires the arrangement ends so he would have been the first general secretary to leave without a car," the source said.
The decision to veto the purchase of the executive saloon marks a new low in the frosty relationship between Sir Bill and the general secretary-elect.
After his retirement Sir Bill has been touted as a governor of Jamaica, where he was born, but he denies having any such ambitions. Accepting a gold badge yesterday on his retirement from the ruling council of the Trades Union Congress, Sir Bill said he would be "slipping from Who's Who to who the hell was he".
He refused to comment on the decision to block part of his retirement package.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments