Matt Wrack has vowed to stay as NASUWT general secretary after the union was forced to reopen nominations and pay legal costs of 拢78,000 following a High Court challenge of its election process. The teaching union announced last week that Wrack had been elected to succeed Dr Patrick Roach, signalling that no one had the 25 branch nominations needed to challenge him as its executive鈥檚 nominee. But it has now said Wrack, the former leader of the Fire Brigades Union, will serve as acting leader while nominations are reopened, following a legal challenge by Neil Butler and Luke Lockyer. Butler had been blocked from standing because he was not a union member. Wrack also did not have membership 鈥� and had never been a teacher. The NASUWT said its executive had 鈥渞eceived further legal advice鈥� and 鈥渃onsider that as a union it is important that there be stability and that the general secretary be appointed free from any suggestion that they have been elected otherwise than in accordance with due process鈥�. According to the union had been warned it was likely to lose in court. It also had to pay legal costs. Wrack鈥檚 nomination by the traditionally moderate union was unexpected and controversial. The veteran left-winger is a close ally of Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, and his selection raised speculation of a future merger, something members roundly rejected earlier this month. In an interview with The Guardian, Wrack said he did not plan to stand aside. He accused political enemies of a 鈥渓udicrous鈥� attempt to block his appointment, citing attacks from former education secretary Michael Gove and others. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about trying to do a hatchet job on me because they don鈥檛 want effective trade unionism,鈥� he said. Nominations re-opened The national executive has now reopened nominations, to close on May 26. Local associations will be allowed to submit nominations on behalf of 鈥渕embers or non-members鈥�. If any other candidate gets the required 25 nominations, a ballot will begin on June 19 and close on July 23. Butler, the union鈥檚 national officer for Wales, said he was 鈥減leased that our union has finally listened to the concerns raised by myself and many members. 鈥淎bove all, the rights of NASUWT members to choose their leader freely and democratically must be upheld.鈥� He added it was a 鈥渟hame that this matter was not resolved before legal proceedings were issued. 鈥淪o much time, and valuable union funds, have been wasted because of a failure to follow what was clearly stated in the union鈥檚 rules.鈥�