The REC chief executive Tim Nicholson has hit back at John Mortimer following criticisms of the industry body printed in the last issue of Professional Recruiter.

Mortimer claimed that he had not resigned from the REC board and that the body was ineffective in its negotiations with the British government and Europe.

But Nicholson dismissed the claims angrily, drawing on his organisation’s successes with both the Employment Agencies Act (EAA) and the Agency Workers Directive.

Nicholson refused to comment further on John Mortimer’s resignation, making it clear that he considers that the matter is now closed.

But he robustly defended the REC’s record against Mortimer’s accusations.

‘We have sound working relations with government, both in the UK and in Brussels,’ he said.

‘Quite rightly, we don’t always agree, but REC’s strategy of constructive engagement is delivering benefits to our industry. The government has been openly supportive of REC’s position with regards to the Agency Workers Directive – a demonstration of what a positive working relationship can deliver. EAA has moved a very long way in the industry’s direction, and it is nonsense to pretend that we have not been at the heart of that.’

Nicholson also made it clear that he was not interested in pursuing internal politics with Mortimer.

‘REC will not be distracted from the key issues affecting our industry by this sort of wrangling. Far from “fatally wounded”, we are stronger and better supported than ever. We serve our members, and live in the real world,’ he said.