Labour donor in court bid to keep Corbyn off the ballot

A MAJOR donor to Labour yesterday threatened to take the party to court to stop Jeremy Corbyn standing for leader again.

Businessman Michael Foster said he was lodging a High Court challenge to the ruling that Mr Corbyn has the automatic right to contest the challenge from Angela Eagle and Owen Smith.

Meanwhile the powerful Unite union called for the mandatory re-selection of all MPs, raising the prospect of a purge of rebels trying to oust Mr Corbyn.

Labour moderates had argued Mr Corbyn should have to get the backing of 51 MPs to stand again, as any challenger would.

But the ruling National Executive Committee ruled Mr Corbyn, who lost a vote of confidence among his MPs by 172 to 40, will

‘Unhelpful and destabilising’

be on the ballot paper by right.

Mr Foster, who has donated more than £400,000 since 2010, said legal advice suggested the incumbent did require nominations under party rules.

‘It’s about the rule of law,’ he said. ‘You cannot bend the rules to suit a particular circumstance or a particular position.’

Dismayed insiders believe the courts are highly unlikely to overrule the NEC while legal action could delay the contest.

Deputy leader Tom Watson, who has told Mr Corbyn to resign, said the challenge was ‘very unhelpful and destabilising’. He added: ‘The NEC made a decision. We must respect that decision and give our members a choice of candidates as soon as possible.’

Mr Smith launches his leadership bid today with a warning the party is heading for a ‘disastrous split’ unless Mr Corbyn is ousted.