Unite chief faces vote to extend leadership

The union leader is facing a vote to extend his tenure following a challenge from a rival who claimed that his decision to remain in his post beyond the age of 65 was against union rules.

A decision was taken to vote on an agreement to extend his period in office to December 2010 to dispel fears of a legal challenge. Results of the vote will be announced on 9 March.

Simpson has been the subject of criticism in the press for his allegedly lavish lifestyle and dogged by rumours of falling outs between him and fellow joint general secretary Tony Woodley.

Unite has defended such claims aggressively and said last month that Simpson was to take legal action against The Times for a series of articles written about the union chief.