This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34060453
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour leadership: Mark Serwotka of PCS union has vote rejected | Labour leadership: Mark Serwotka of PCS union has vote rejected |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The leader of one of the UK's biggest trade unions has had his vote in the Labour leadership election rejected. | The leader of one of the UK's biggest trade unions has had his vote in the Labour leadership election rejected. |
| Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, voted for Jeremy Corbyn, but was told his vote would not be counted. | Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, voted for Jeremy Corbyn, but was told his vote would not be counted. |
| Mr Serwotka has previously publicly criticised Labour's "move rightwards". | Mr Serwotka has previously publicly criticised Labour's "move rightwards". |
| Labour said it would not comment on individual cases but said people "who don't share the aims or values of the Labour Party don't get a vote". | |
| The PCS, which represents civil servants, is not affiliated to the Labour Party. | The PCS, which represents civil servants, is not affiliated to the Labour Party. |
| '#LabourPurge' | '#LabourPurge' |
| Mr Serwotka's wife Ruth tweeted about the vote, saying: "Mark been prevented from voting in a Labour Movement election as an affiliated member. I'm very interested to hear the reasons. #LabourPurge." | |
| In an interview with the New Statesman in 2011, he said he had voted for the Green Party in the 2010 election and added: "Growing up in Wales, it was Labour, Labour, Labour. But [since] its move rightwards and embrace of the markets, Labour doesn't speak for me." | In an interview with the New Statesman in 2011, he said he had voted for the Green Party in the 2010 election and added: "Growing up in Wales, it was Labour, Labour, Labour. But [since] its move rightwards and embrace of the markets, Labour doesn't speak for me." |
| Mr Serwotka is among 3,200 people who have so far been prevented from voting in the leadership election after signing up as affiliated members, with many more expected to follow. | Mr Serwotka is among 3,200 people who have so far been prevented from voting in the leadership election after signing up as affiliated members, with many more expected to follow. |
| Labour MP Ian Austin said "tens of thousands" of people should be barred. | Labour MP Ian Austin said "tens of thousands" of people should be barred. |
| Mr Austin - who was an aide to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown - said Labour officials had randomly sampled registered supporters, who had signed up to vote in the contest for £3, and that 4.4% had admitted they "actively supported" other parties. | Mr Austin - who was an aide to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown - said Labour officials had randomly sampled registered supporters, who had signed up to vote in the contest for £3, and that 4.4% had admitted they "actively supported" other parties. |
| 'Not thought through' | 'Not thought through' |
| "With hundreds of thousands of people joining, if 4.4% support other political parties, that could mean tens of thousands of our opponents are able to take part in this process," he said. | "With hundreds of thousands of people joining, if 4.4% support other political parties, that could mean tens of thousands of our opponents are able to take part in this process," he said. |
| He said anyone who had supported another party should be ineligible to vote. | He said anyone who had supported another party should be ineligible to vote. |
| "I don't think it's a very good advertisement for the Labour Party," he added. | "I don't think it's a very good advertisement for the Labour Party," he added. |
| The new system, which among other things made union members who want a vote in leadership contests sign up as affiliated supporters, was introduced last year by previous Labour leader Ed Miliband. | The new system, which among other things made union members who want a vote in leadership contests sign up as affiliated supporters, was introduced last year by previous Labour leader Ed Miliband. |
| Mr Austin suggested it had been a knee-jerk reaction to a candidate-selection scandal in Falkirk and had not been "thought through". | Mr Austin suggested it had been a knee-jerk reaction to a candidate-selection scandal in Falkirk and had not been "thought through". |
| It was voted through by an overwhelming majority of party members at a special Labour conference. | It was voted through by an overwhelming majority of party members at a special Labour conference. |
| But Labour officials are understood to be under pressure from several leadership candidates to tighten up the vetting process for new supporters. | But Labour officials are understood to be under pressure from several leadership candidates to tighten up the vetting process for new supporters. |
| 'Highly dubious' | 'Highly dubious' |
| Sources say the party's procedure committee could meet later on Wednesday to discuss possible changes. | Sources say the party's procedure committee could meet later on Wednesday to discuss possible changes. |
| Earlier this month, the committee decided not to use information collected by Labour HQ when campaigners knocked on doors during the election to check the views of voters. | Earlier this month, the committee decided not to use information collected by Labour HQ when campaigners knocked on doors during the election to check the views of voters. |
| Several candidates want it to reverse that decision. | |
| BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said some in Labour saw the row as a key fight in a battle between the left and the right of the party and supporters of Jeremy Corbyn were resisting the change for fear he would lose votes. | BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said some in Labour saw the row as a key fight in a battle between the left and the right of the party and supporters of Jeremy Corbyn were resisting the change for fear he would lose votes. |
| But one source close to the process said changing the party's processes midway through a contest because one candidate looked to be winning would look "highly dubious". | But one source close to the process said changing the party's processes midway through a contest because one candidate looked to be winning would look "highly dubious". |