MSF conference in Hove in June passed a whole range of policy motions which were well to the left of Labours manifesto commitments. On several this was with the support of the unions leadership despite General Secretary Roger Lyons previously sycophantic relationship with Blair.
MSF leaders, together with many of their co-thinkers in other unions, are becoming increasingly frustrated with Blair's stance since the election.
For Lyons, the particular tension has been on the question of trade union recognition. He prided himself on being the architect on TUC policy on this issue and has been more than a little irritated at the fact that beyond GCHQ Blair has said nothing.
On the issue of pensions, the top table tried to hold the line for New Labour-and failed. While initially it seemed that they might get their way, eventually conference backed index linking and the restoration of SERPS.
Politically this middle ground felt a huge reliefat the Tories defeat - but were unsure as to whether to give Blair the benefit of the doubt or to attempt to push for the improvements they felt his government should be introducing.
On 'Party into Power' the Lyons clique were able to keep control of the debate to some extent through the production of a statement which while welcoming the document made sharp criticisms of most of its key proposals.
essentially- agreed this approach while adding further areas in which the status quo should be retained.
Merger
One of the keynote debates as expected was on the proposed merger with IPMS. In the run up to conference it became clear that the NEC were not going to accept that the decision of IPMS conference to reject the proposed merger terms meant that their project was dead in the water.
While few speakers in the debate showed any enthusiasm for the new union whole sale rejection of the leadership's approach was not agreed. Lyons' hands were tied much tighter than he would have liked however.
The notion that he might bypass the democratic structures by a membership ballot prior to a full debate at conference was resoundingly rejected.
Conference also succeeded -after countless bureaucratic manoeuvres to prevent them even being discussed - in passing important motions against the witch hunts of two MSF full time officers who have fallen foul of the Lyons machine.
Dave Peters was sacked more than a year ago and conference stated that if his legal challenge proved that this was an 'unsafe'decision he should be reinstated. Joe Bowers stood against Lyons in the recent General Secretary election and has faced problems with disciplinary action ever since.
Conference demanded this should stop, and that the union who had championed an antibullying campaign should stop bullying its own employees.
Fairly mild you might think -but the vitriol with which it was opposed demonstrated how bitterly the leadership and their Blairite cronies are determined to silence all dissent.
The outcome was thus patchy ovér all - as was the showing of the left. Deep divisions on the left have opened over past months, especially on the question of the merger.