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I note that among the candidates aiming to be the University and College Union's general secretary next year, the incumbent is a member of the Labour Party while a well-placed challenger from UCU Left is in the Socialist Workers Party.

Transparency about people's political positions does no harm, but the British trade union movement is not organised along party political lines. As the UCU Left candidate notes, what is at stake in such elections is which candidate is thought to have the best and most effective policies to defend and promote the interests of members. Their politics may offer some guide, but their record of activity is likely to be more important.

Keith Flett, London