**NASUWT Teaching Union Announces Contested Leadership Race Following Legal Dispute**
The NASUWT, one of the UK’s most prominent teaching unions, is set to embark on its first contested general secretary election in over three decades, after a recent legal challenge forced the organisation to reopen nominations for its top post.
The leadership contest will see Neil Butler, NASUWT’s National Officer for Wales, go head-to-head against Matt Wrack, the former leader of the Fire Brigades Union. The ballot, which will be conducted by post, is scheduled to run from 19 June to 23 July, offering thousands of union members a direct say in whom they wish to represent their interests at the highest level.
This unexpected electoral development follows a period of internal controversy within the union. On 22 April, NASUWT’s national executive announced Matt Wrack as the union’s new general secretary, selecting him to succeed outgoing leader Dr Patrick Roach. The decision was apparently supported at the executive level, with Wrack tapped as the preferred candidate.
However, shortly after this announcement, Neil Butler mounted a legal challenge. Butler asserted that he had been wrongly barred from running for the position on the basis that he was a non-member, a stipulation communicated to him by the executive committee. Taking his case further, Butler, along with support from Luke Lockyer—the president of NASUWT in Wales—sought urgent legal intervention, aiming to force the union to reopen the nomination process.
To avert a protracted and potentially damaging battle in the High Court, the NASUWT leadership reached an agreement with Butler and Lockyer. The union agreed to pay £65,000 toward their legal costs and Value Added Tax, and crucially, agreed to reopen the general secretary nominations for a short period, with Wrack continuing as acting general secretary in the interim.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NASUWT confirmed that both Matt Wrack and Neil Butler had successfully met the criteria to stand—either through endorsement by the national executive or by securing the backing of at least 25 local association groups. The contest marks the union’s first electoral challenge for the general secretary post since 1990.
Wayne Broom, the current president of NASUWT, highlighted the significance of the forthcoming election, noting: “The general secretary plays a vital role—not only in the day-to-day leadership of the union, but also in implementing the policies crafted by our executive and membership, and in standing up for the teaching profession as a whole.” Broom encouraged all eligible members to participate in the leadership vote, emphasising the importance of member engagement in determining the union’s future direction.
The contest between two well-known union figures is likely to engage significant attention within and beyond the education sector. Matt Wrack brings a history of union leadership from his time with the Fire Brigades Union, while Neil Butler has long served teaching professionals in Wales through his national officer role.
Observers note that the manner in which the leadership race arose also shines a spotlight on the importance of internal transparency and democratic processes within trade unions. The legal challenge and subsequent settlement underscore the powerful impact individual members and officers can have in shaping Union governance.
As NASUWT members prepare to cast their votes over several weeks this summer, attention will inevitably focus on how the new leader, whoever is chosen, will steer the organisation through ongoing sector challenges and represent the interests of UK teachers on the national stage.