TEACHERS’ union NASUWT has reopened nominations for its general secretary following a legal challenge over the election of Matt Wrack to the position.

Neil Butler took legal action against the union after its national executive committee told him that he was not eligible to stand for the position as a non-member.

Mr Butler and the union’s Wales president, Luke Lockyer, sought “injunctive relief” to force the union to reopen nominations shortly after Mr Wrack was announced as the successor to Dr Patrick Roach at the NASUWT.

Yesterday, the High Court heard that parties had reached an agreement; the challenge was withdrawn, with the union paying £65,000 of Mr Butler and Mr Lockyer’s costs, and VAT.

Following the agreement, Mr Butler said he was “pleased” that the union had “finally listened to the concerns raised by myself and many members."

But Robert Lewis, partner at law firm Mishcon de Reya, which represents Mr Butler and Mr Lockyer, said that the committee ruled that Mr Butler “could not be nominated by local associations because he was a non-member despite there being no such restriction in the union’s rule book.”

In a statement on Sunday, the NASUWT said: “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.

“The national executive recognises that the local associations and individuals who have raised concerns about the process have done so in good faith, and the union now have responded to those concerns by extending the period for nomination as outlined above.”

Local associations will be permitted to submit nominations on behalf of members or non-members. A ballot of members is set to commence on June 19 and close on July 23, if required.

Mr Wrack was endorsed by the national executive committee after being beat for re-election as general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, a position he had held since 2005.

NASUWT’s rules say that local associations can nominate challengers, and if a candidate gets endorsements from 25 associations, there will be an election.

The union said that nominations had been reopened until May 26, with Mr Wrack serving as acting general secretary in the interim.