Sally Hunt has been re-elected general secretary of the University and College Union after defeating Socialist Workers' Party member Mark Campbell.

Ms Hunt received 10,776 votes, a winning margin of almost 7,000 and representing 73 per cent of the votes cast.

The winning margin was five times larger than when she was first elected in 2007.

Ahead of the election Academic Friends of Israel warned that the union's stance on Israel during Ms Hunt's time in charge had left supporters of Israel "between a rock and a hard place".

UCU has adopted 16 anti-Israel resolutions under her leadership and was criticised by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles last year for its rejection of the widely-accepted definition of antisemitism.

It faces legal action later this year from a Jewish academic who believes UCU breached equality legislation.

Following her victory Ms Hunt said UCU members wanted "positive change" and to "rise to the many challenges we face".

Mr Campbell is a founder member of the increasingly influential UCU Left caucus which is dominated by SWP members.