Corbyn tightens his grip on Labour as the party's governing body approves rule change to make it easier for the hard-left to get on a leadership ballot

  • Labour governing body wave through change to party leadership rules
  • Would-be candidates will only need support 10% MPs and MEPs rather than 15%
  • Strengthens left's grip on party by making it easier for their candidates to stand
  • Rule change will need to be agreed by the Labour Party conference next week 

By Kate Ferguson, Political Correspondent For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Jeremy Corbyn tightened his grip on Labour today as the party's governing body approved a rule change to make it easier for left-wing candidates to become leader. 

Labour's National Executive Committee waved through his proposals to tip the balance of power away from moderate MPs towards the party's more radical members.

Under the change, would-be leadership candidates will only have to get the support of 10 per cent of MPs and MEPs - down from the current 15 per cent.

The move makes it far easier for the far-left to get on future leadership ballots and maintain their stranglehold on the party even after Mr Corbyn eventually goes.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured last week at a memorial for the battle of Britain at Westminster Abbey, has tightened his grip on the Labour Party with a rule change that will make it easier for left-wing candidates to get on the ballot

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured last week at a memorial for the battle of Britain at Westminster Abbey, has tightened his grip on the Labour Party with a rule change that will make it easier for left-wing candidates to get on the ballot

And they approved plans for a review into party structures in a move billed by the leadership as a bid to 'democratise' Labour but will be seen by critics as another power grab by the hard-left. 

The hotly-anticipated rule change had been billed expected to be a fiery showdown between Labour moderates and the radical leadership.

But the change was passed unanimously with not a single member of the NEC opposing it. 

The decision sets the stage for a potential battle at Labour's annual conference, which begins on Sunday in Brighton and will have to approve or reject the proposal.

Corbynistas had originally planned to demand the proportion of MPs who have to back a leadership candidate be should to just five per cent.

But the left-wing leadership and party moderates struck a compromise deal to meet in the middle at 10 per cent.

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: 'Jeremy welcomes the decision of the NEC to back expansion of democracy and participation in the party.

'Labour's membership has nearly tripled in the last two years, and the enormous benefits of that were felt at the General Election. 

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary and a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has rounded on moderates telling them Labour is not their party 

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary and a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has rounded on moderates telling them Labour is not their party 

'Our members have the talent, energy and skills to win elections so that we can transform our country for the many not the few.

'Jeremy is delighted that the NEC backed plans to tackle discrimination in the party. As the party of equality, there can be no place in Labour for prejudice.

'Jeremy thanks all those involved with drafting this motion, including the Jewish Labour Movement and Shami Chakrabarti.' 

The changes come after Barry Gardiner, a key ally of Mr Corbyn, warned MPs that Labour is not their party. 

The shadow international trade secretary said on Sunday:'This is about the membership realising that they are the ones who decide the future of the party.

'All too often members of Parliament seem to think that actually 'this party is our party, we are the important people in it'.

'No. It is the members and it is them on behalf of the public and that is why they should have a bigger say.' 

Jeremy CorbynLabour

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