BARBARA PLANT was re-elected GMB president at the union’s annual congress in Brighton today, while Sonya Davis was elected vice-president, the first black woman to hold this role in the union’s 136-year history.

Ms Plant, who will lead the union for the next four years, said: “It is an honour to be re-elected president of GMB.

“Leading our union as it fights for working people across the country is a privilege.

“I look forward to continuing this work alongside our 600,000 members.”

Ms Davis, branch secretary for Wandsworth, member of the London Labour regional executive committee and Labour National Women’s Committee, said: “I’m so happy to have been trusted with this role by GMB members.

“Fighting for working people has been at the core of my activism in GMB — as a rep, branch secretary and now vice-president of our union.

“I know that alongside Barbara we will build an even stronger campaigning union for working people.”