Ritchie was removed from his post as leader of the country’s construction workers after ballot irregularities were discovered in the 2009 election race.

The union appealed against an order by the Trade Union Certification Office to re-run the election.

But the ruling has been upheld and the election will be run again later this year.

Ritchie is currently working for the union in Scotland and it is understood he will stand again in the re-run election.

He will face rival Mick Dooley who lost out in the 2009 race and alerted the Certification Officer to irregularities after only 56,867 ballot papers were sent to the union’s claimed membership of 130,000.

Support is also growing for London and South East regional secretary Jerry Swain to stand for general secretary.