MR Gavin Laird has been returned as general secretary of the

Amalgamated Engineering Union for a third five-year period after winning

an overall majority in a postal election against five other candidates.

He attracted 73,000 votes, somewhat down on the 79,000 votes he won in

l984, but still way ahead of Mr Martin Foley from Coventry who was

placed second with 25,004. His victory was so expected that the left

wing did not put up an ''official'' candidate against him.

However, the left did successfully contest the London and South-east

executive seat held for the past decade by moderate Mr Jack Whyman, who

is to retire next year. West London district organiser Mr Roger Butler

defeated moderate Mr John Jenkins from Kent to register the first

significant left-wing gain since Mr Jimmy Airlie broke the right-wing

stranglehold on the AEU executive by winning the Scottish seat six years

ago.

In elections for a whole batch of more minor posts there was little

overall change. These included the return unopposed of West of Scotland

divisional organiser Mr Bill Scott -- this is believed to be

unprecedented for what is normally a fiercely contested seat -- and Mr

Tom Adam's defeat of challenger Mr Jim McEwan to retain his post of

Falkirk district secretary.

Attention will now focus on next spring's elections to fill the vacant

North-east executive seat and an assistant general secretaryship.