New thorn in Blair's side

By Finlo Rohrer
BBC News Online

Mr Woodley has a reputation for saving jobs

Triumphant T&G leadership candidate Tony Woodley has refused to speculate on the reverberations of his victory in Downing Street.

But most commentators will be suggesting the election of the Wirral-born car negotiator is likely to be unwelcome news to Tony Blair as he tries to focus on foreign issues in St Petersburg and Evian.

Mr Woodley's tack after victory was to play up the reasonableness of his agenda, insisting: "There's no reason for the Labour government to fear the T&G."

But he plans a summit of his counterparts in the other unions, which would look at a common plan of attack over industrial relations.

And his victory is just the latest in a string of successes for left-wingers.

The rise of former welder Kevin Curran to the top of the GMB was painted as a success for the left, with his stated plan to review links with Labour.

Derek Simpson's election as joint general secretary of Amicus, the entity created by the merger of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union and Manufacturing, Science and Finance, was followed by his claim to be a "lieutenant of the left".

The control of the big guns in the labour movement by perceived left-wingers mirrors what has already happened further down the union food chain, with Mick Rix at Aslef, Bob Crow at the RMT and Andy Gilchrist at the Fire Brigades Union.

Mr Woodley could follow Kevin Curran's lead

Despite representing a wide range of the left, all of the leaders are united by a desire for improvements in the labour laws, particularly in workers' rights, to bring the UK into line with other European nations.

The mark of the left-wing drift in the unions was best indicated by the tactics employed by Mr Woodley's rival for the leadership, Jack Dromey.

Dubbed a moderate, and having stood as a Blairite modernising candidate against Bill Morris in 1995, Mr Dromey was keen to distance himself from the government this time round and play up his tough stance on issues like privatisation.

But Mr Woodley has gone as far as describing himself as a "fully paid-up member of the awkward squad".

He wants anti-union legislation abolished, greatly improved pension rights with the link to average earnings restored, and harsh punishments for corporate manslaughter.

The 54-year-old has established his reputation battling to save jobs in Britain's car industry.

He enjoyed major successes safeguarding jobs at Rover's Longbridge plant and bringing production of the Baby Jag to Ford's Halewood plant on Merseyside, gaining a reputation as a tough negotiator.

Funding threat

And he is likely to be equally tough in pressing Tony Blair for change.

Mr Woodley's summit of union leaders is likely to focus on the political damage it can threaten Labour with as well as the prospect of withdrawing its funding to the debt-saddled party.

The union leader has also been one of those assailing the government over the war in Iraq, calling it a "continued, illegal occupation".

But it is on the key issues of protecting jobs and improving rights that he is likely to want to be judged.