A merger with the other big teaching unions was a central plank of Steve Sinnott’s triumphant campaign for the National Union of Teachers leadership. So the Diary couldn’t help noticing a rather forlorn page on the union’s website.
When we last checked, the “professional unity” page was still talking optimistically about how “2002 could, with goodwill on all sides, be a significant year for all teachers in England and Wales”.
Clearly, Mr Sinnott has set to work on his new agenda with frightening energy.