Momentum criticises ‘meagre’ rule change

THE LEFT-WING pressure group Momentum yesterday hit out after “watered down” reforms to Labour leadership elections and the selection process for MP candidates were passed by party delegates despite splits between constituency parties and unions.

Changes to the leadership contest rules were approved by 64 per cent to 36 per cent while changes to candidate selection for MPs were approved by 65 per cent to 35 per cent

Their campaign is seen by many MPs on the right of the party as an effort to purge “Blairite” influences and critics of leader Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of issues such as anti-Semitism.

But spokesman for the Corbynite Momentum group said the changes fall “well short of what the members want with many key proposals being down or blocked”.

Wendy Nichols, a member of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee appealed for delegates in Liverpool not to boo when the results were announced, after heckling emerged following a separate vote on Sunday.

Under the reselection rule change, the threshold to force sitting MPs to fight open selection battles will be cut from 50 per cent to 33 per cent of local branches or affiliated unions.

The rule change for future leadership contests does not alter the 10 per cent threshold for the number of MPs’ nominations which a candidate must gather to get on to the ballot paper, but also requires would-be leaders to secure nominations from 5 per cent of constituency parties or 5 per cent of members of trade unions or affiliated organisations. watered