Roger Kline, former head of universities at lecturers' union Natfhe, may be rather pleased with his new role in the fledgling University and College Union, which many believe does not make best use of his talents. As head of equality and employment rights he has no remit to talk about the pay deal, so he will not be obliged to sell a 13.1 per cent offer to union members, which he is understood to have thought fell short of what could be achieved. Keeping his head down on the issue may well boost his chances in the campaign to be elected general secretary of the UCU, in which he is up against Sally Hunt, who has been selling the deal amid loud protests all week.