Dugdale secures victory in fight over NEC seat

KEZIA Dugdale won the biggest fight of her political career and almost immediately announced plans to take on Jeremy Corbyn again.

The Scottish Labour leader saw off attempts by allies of Mr Corbyn to delay her appointment of a member to Labour’s powerful ruling body.

In the end the reform was overwhelmingly backed by the party’s annual conference in Liverpool. Labour sources said that Ms Dugdale had defeated seven separate attempts to sink part of her flagship austerity policies since the weekend.

But within minutes Ms Dugdale announced that she wouldtakeuptheseatonthe National Executive Committee herself.

The decision sets up the prospect of further showdowns with Mr Corbyn, who is also a member.

The newly created Scottish and Welsh representatives mean Mr Corbyn’s supporters will be outnumbered on the NEC.

But Ms Dugdale faced accusations of “gerrymandered” votes and a system “rigged” against Mr Corbyn.

Amid heated scenes in the conference hall, some delegates argued that the position should be decided by a vote of the members.

Onemember,DavidFlack, added that he was “appalled at the gerrymandering and the lack of democracy that’s gone on in our party”.

A Labour source said Ms Dugdale came to Liverpool “and stood steadfast... and won again and again and then again. No-one else has emerged from this conference with so many victories under their belt,” he added.

Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “The package of reforms passed today is a significant step forward, not just for Welsh Labour, but the whole UK Labour movement.”