The Prime Minister's appointment of an unelected former adviser, Andrew Adonis, as a junior education minister was ridiculed by delegates. A motion from the union's North West Region attacked the "appointment of unelected supporters of the further specialisation and privatisation of education". Paul Mackney, Natfhe's general secretary, said in his speech that he did not have "the mind or even the body of an Adonis". But Mr Mackney said he still felt qualified to dismiss Mr Adonis's education policies as prejudiced.