In 1893, he was elected to its new executive, representing Division 1 (Scotland and Carlisle), which required him to move to London.
He was a leader of the opposition to general secretary John Anderson, arguing as early as 1893 that he should be removed from office for drunkenness.
[2] Gardner, with Barnes, argued in 1900 that the union should affiliate to the new Labour Representation Committee, something supported by the membership but on very low turnouts.
It did affiliate to the GFTU, and in 1906, Gardner succeeded Barnes on its executive council, becoming treasurer in 1908.
[3] By this point, he was in declining health, leading him to leave his GFTU post and take time off from his ASE role, eventually resigning in 1910.