Dirty dealings suspected in race for next Ucatt leader

The battle to be the next leader of Ucatt is turning dirty amid allegations of dubious voting practices and candidates being silenced.

The fight has developed into a two-horse race between current general secretary Alan Ritchie and London region official Mick Dooley.

The first round of branch nominations are now in and Contract Journal understands that Ritchie leads Dooley by 190 to 47.

But doubts have been raised over the validity of a number of nominations from Scotland, which is traditionally a stronghold for Ritchie.

One union source said: "A few eyebrows have been raised about the number of nominations from north of the border because they do not seem to tally with the number of active branches there.

"The word among union members is that some of these branches seem to be dormant and only spring into life around election time.

A Ucatt spokesman dismissed the claims as "mischief making".

Dooley supporters also claim he has been banned from talking publicly about his campaign.

But the Ucatt spokesman said all candidates were banned by union rules from talking to the press during an election.

One Dooley supporter said: "That is all very well, but hardly fair when Ritchie has a full-time spokesman to speak on his behalf."

The election process is due to be complete in June following a vote by the union membership.

If Ritchie wins he will be guaranteed the post under union rules for the next eight years until his retirement.