THE race to find the new general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union has begun, with current assistant secretary Mick Lynch emerging as the front-runner.

Mr Lynch, who was blacklisted as a trade union militant in the construction industry in the 1990s, gained 85 branch nominations: more than his three rivals for the post combined.

Also standing are Steve Hedley, the union’s other assistant general secretary, London regional organiser John Leach and Scotland organiser Gordon Martin — all on the left of the movement.

Mr Lynch, known as a hard-nosed negotiator, has pledged to work for a “joined-up” fight across the trade union movement to protect jobs and pay.

“We need to put pressure on politicians of all political parties to agree a new deal at work which recognises the role essential workers have played during the pandemic,” Mr Lynch said.

“That means guaranteeing decent, secure jobs with strong trade unions.”

The ballot closes on May 4, with the winner replacing Mick Cash, who has been RMT general secretary since the untimely death of Bob Crow in 2014.