AN East Lancashire teaching union representative has been nominated for the position of national president.

National Union of Teachers (NUT) Blackburn with Darwen secretary Simon Jones has been put forward by three North West areas to represent teachers nationally.

The Blackburn with Darwen, Isle of Man and Blackpool divisions have nominated Mr Jones to enable him to give advice, support and lead on a nationwide level.

The divisions said: “Simon’s achievements over the last 12 years, including his leadership in the pay, pensions, workload and SATs campaigns; his initiatives to defend comprehensive education, oppose privatisation, promote equality, anti-racism and fight the BNP; and his efforts to work with other unions right across his electoral area, convince us that he is ready to take on this new challenge as our National President.

“Simon has not sought or accepted endorsement from any of the political factions within the Union and is standing completely indep-endently in this election.”

Mr Jones said: “We need to continue the good work that we’ve started with our younger members.

“Ten years ago our Young Teachers’ Weekend in Lancashire was the only one running anywhere in the country.

“It’s no coincidence that members who have ben-efited from our support when they have needed us are the most likely to come forward as school repres-entatives or members of local committees.

“We need to make sure we have the appr-opriate balance of properly-paid union officials and lay officers.

“We cannot rely on our local officers to do ever more casework. We should use a fair share of the extra income our increased membership has brought to the Union to increase our professional staffing levels.

“We must cherish the unity that is evolving within the union itself.

“In a year full of important elections we must be vigilant not to let factionalism re-emerge within the union.

"Then we can move on to our aim to unify the whole teaching profession.”

The presidency will be decided by a vote later this year.