Section 46(1)(b) (requirement of re-election) does not apply to a person holding a position to which this Chapter applies if the following conditions are satisfied.
The conditions are that—
he holds the position by virtue of having been elected at an election in relation to which the requirements of this Chapter were satisfied,
he is a full-time employee of the union by virtue of the position,
he will reach retirement age within five years,
he is entitled under the rules of the union to continue as the holder of the position until retirement age without standing for re-election,
he has been a full-time employee of the union for a period (which need not be continuous) of at least ten years, and
the period between the day on which the election referred to in paragraph (a) took place and the day immediately preceding that on which paragraph (c) is first satisfied does not exceed five years.
For the purposes of this section "retirement age", in relation to any person, means the earlier of—
the age fixed by, or in accordance with, the rules of the union for him to retire from the position in question, or
the age which is for the time being pensionable age (within the meaning given by the rules in paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act 1995).