Stranger on the shore...
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One man who must feel a little bit disappointed after the Blackpool conference is Jackson Moore of the United Road Transport Union. Elections for the general council gave five seats to transport unions other than railways. All five were filled by TGWU men (that's what makes me wonder about Alex Kitson). Jackson was left out in the cold at the end of the pier, so to speak.
The voting system at TUC intrigues me. When the chairman of the scrutineers announces that Mr Whatsisname has polled 11,980,000 votes, I imagine beaches packed with delegates' hands held aloft and tally clerks from the NUM doing a quick count-up.
What it really means is that three or four major unions have voted on behalf of their members who probably did not take the trouble to express an opinion in the first place.
Why don't they just say 11.98 votes instead? Well, it's not so impressive — but it's a lot less childish!