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Jeremy Corbyn's future: Labour leadership election rules Guide to the Labour leadership election: Corbyn, Eagle, Smith
(6 days later)
Jeremy Corbyn is facing a leadership challenge, having lost a vote of no confidence among Labour MPs by 172 votes to 40 and had dozens of resignations from his front bench team. He says he will carry on, having been backed by nearly 60% of Labour members last year. So why is there an uprising against him and could it eventually force him out? And what are the rules around a Labour leadership election? A Labour leadership contest is under way, after Jeremy Corbyn lost a vote of no confidence among Labour MPs by 172 votes to 40 and had dozens of resignations from his front bench team. Here's a guide to the timetable and rules of the contest, the candidates - and what sparked it.
Why is Jeremy Corbyn under pressure? Labour leadership election timetable
Jeremy Corbyn has always had relatively little support among the party's 232 MPs. In the leadership contest last year candidates had to be nominated by 35 Labour MPs to go through to the wider vote of party members. Mr Corbyn only managed to get the backing of that many after some Labour MPs - including London mayor Sadiq Khan - decided to nominate him to "widen the debate" by ensuring there was a left-wing Labour voice in the contest. Who can vote in Labour leadership contest?
Although he was seen as the outsider in the contest when it moved to the wider vote of party members and the new "£3 supporters", Jeremy Corbyn surprised commentators and the party's top brass as he surged through to be elected leader of the Labour Party last September. The veteran MP and campaigner from the Labour left, which had been marginalised in the party for three decades, won 59.5% of the votes in the contest. Labour Party members, affiliated trade union supporters and so-called registered supporters are able to vote, although there are some key differences from the 2015 contest which Jeremy Corbyn won.
Who are the candidates?
Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn took the political world by surprise when he romped to victory in last year's Labour leadership contest, having begun the contest as a rank outsider.
He enjoys strong support from many Labour Party members but he does not command the confidence of the majority of his MPs, losing a vote of no confidence by 172 to 40.
The vote was triggered by Labour MPs unhappy with Mr Corbyn's leadership and critical of his "lacklustre" campaign to stay in the European Union.
A north London MP since 1983, he has long been a stalwart of the British left and spent his career on the backbenches fighting a rearguard action against Labour's abandonment of the radical policies and values contained in its 1983 manifesto, such as a commitment to renationalising the utilities and nuclear disarmament.
Mr Corbyn has been a virtually ever-present figure at demos and marches, a joiner of committees and a champion of - sometimes unfashionable - leftwing causes. He was one of the key figures in the Stop the War campaign against the Iraq War.
He began his education at the fee-paying preparatory school, Castle House, in Newport, before moving into the state sector, after passing his 11-plus.
He is a vegetarian and does not drink alcohol. He lives with his third wife and has three sons from an earlier marriage.
What has he said on Brexit? Trigger Article 50, the formal process for leaving the EU, straight away. "The British people have made their decision. We must respect that result and Article 50 has to be invoked now so that we negotiate an exit from European Union... There must be the best deal possible in order to ensure strong industries in Britain stay strong and strong industries that have big export markets protect retain those export markets. But we are in some very difficult areas."
Angela Eagle
First elected as MP for Wallasey in 1992, Ms Eagle was one of the youngest MPs in Parliament at the age of 31.
She was also one of the first openly gay female MPs when she came out in 1997 - and has said it is time for Labour to have a female leader.
Ms Eagle stood in the deputy leadership contest in 2015 and served as a minister under Gordon Brown, including in the Treasury.
She has held several briefs in opposition, including shadow Commons leader and, more recently, as shadow business secretary under Jeremy Corbyn - a position she stepped down from in June, saying a change in leader was required.
As shadow first secretary of state she had also deputised for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions.
The Yorkshire-born MP - who represented the Remain side in some of the EU referendum TV debates - was comprehensive school-educated before going to Oxford University to read philosophy, politics and economics.
She has an identical twin sister, Maria, who has also served in government. They are the first set of twins to be elected as MPs.
In her pitch for the leadership, she has said she can provide the leadership "in dark times for Labour" and bring the party and the country "back together".
What has she said on Brexit? It would "cause chaos" to trigger Article 50 straight away. "We need to spend more time disentangling ourselves from the European Union in a way which does the least damage. We need to be very focused on that… I wouldn't rush to the exits."
Owen Smith
First elected to Parliament in 2010, as the MP for Pontypridd, Owen Smith quickly rose up the party ranks, and was appointed a shadow minister for Wales within months.
In 2012 he was promoted to shadow secretary of state for Wales, before shadowing the work and pensions brief. But Mr Smith was one of a series of shadow cabinet members to recently resign over Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Mr Smith, 46, has been a Labour Party member since the age of 16, at which time he was a pupil at Barry Boys Comprehensive School in the Vale of Glamorgan, before moving on to study history and French at the University of Sussex.
A career in journalism at the BBC followed, where he plied his trade as a radio and a television producer. He left to take up a role as a government special adviser to former Torfaen MP Paul Murphy, principally at the Northern Ireland Office.
He has also worked as a lobbyist for pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
Mr Smith lives in the Pontypridd area with his wife, Liz, and their three children.
Launching his leadership campaign, Mr Smith pitched himself as the candidate that could unite the Labour Party. He has vowed to put tackling inequality at the heart of the party's mission.
Brexit position: He has suggested the possibility of a second referendum on EU membership, but said it would depend on what kind of deal the UK negotiated on the terms of Brexit. "I don't think we should accept we're on a definite path out. I think we need to make sure people are satisfied. We trusted people, rightly, to take the decision. We can trust them again in 18 months' time to check it's absolutely what they wanted."
Why is Jeremy Corbyn facing a leadership challenge?
Jeremy Corbyn has always had relatively little support among the party's 232 MPs. In last year's leadership contest candidates had to be nominated by 35 Labour MPs to go through to the wider vote of party members.
Mr Corbyn only managed to get the backing of that many after some Labour MPs - including London mayor Sadiq Khan - decided to nominate him to "widen the debate" by ensuring there was a left-wing Labour voice in the contest.
Although he was seen as the outsider in the contest, when it moved to the wider vote of party members and the new "£3 supporters", he surprised commentators and the party's top brass as he surged through to be elected Labour leader, with 59.5% of the vote.
That victory included overwhelming support from all the groups who voted in the contest - party members, affiliated supporters - including trade unionists - and registered supporters who rallied behind his anti-austerity message and promise of a new politics.That victory included overwhelming support from all the groups who voted in the contest - party members, affiliated supporters - including trade unionists - and registered supporters who rallied behind his anti-austerity message and promise of a new politics.
With Mr Corbyn as leader, Labour has won the by-elections in seats it has defended. But it has also had what was judged to be a disappointing set of results in May's elections around the UK. The trigger for the move against him was the UK's vote to leave the EU. Labour rebels say they felt Mr Corbyn - the most Eurosceptic Labour leader for 30 years - had not shown enough enthusiasm and leadership during the campaign, despite arguing for a Remain vote. Under Mr Corbyn, Labour has won the by-elections in seats it has defended. But it has also had what was judged to be a disappointing set of results in May's elections around the UK.
Dozens of Mr Corbyn's frontbench team have walked out since Hilary Benn was sacked on 26 June, saying he cannot win a general election. The Labour leader has said he will carry on, replacing them with colleagues who are more sympathetic to his political views. The trigger for the move against him was the UK's vote to leave the EU. Labour rebels say they felt Mr Corbyn - the most Eurosceptic Labour leader for 30 years - had not shown enough enthusiasm and leadership during the campaign, despite arguing for a Remain vote.
Dozens of his frontbench team have walked out since Hilary Benn was sacked on 26 June, saying Mr Corbyn cannot win a general election. The Labour leader has said he will carry on, replacing them with colleagues who are more sympathetic to his political views.
What are Jeremy Corbyn's allies saying?What are Jeremy Corbyn's allies saying?
Mr Corbyn's allies said the vote of no confidence on 28 June, which he lost by 172 votes to 40, was "unconstitutional" and challenged his opponents to "shut up or put up" by standing against him if they could muster enough support. Mr Corbyn's allies insist that he is "not going anywhere" and that he wants to lead the party into the next general election. They say that after the Brexit vote and in the midst of a Conservative Party leadership contest, Labour should be focusing on opposing the government rather than getting involved in internal party battles.
They argued his election victory last year gave him the biggest mandate of any opposition Labour leader in history and say he is more in touch with Labour voters' views on a range of issues, including the economy, defence and Europe, than MPs in the centre and centre-right of the party. His allies said the vote of no confidence on 28 June, which he lost by 172 votes to 40, was "unconstitutional", arguing that his election victory last year gave him the biggest mandate of any opposition Labour leader in history. They say he is more in touch with Labour voters' views on a range of issues, including the economy, defence and Europe, than MPs in the centre and centre-right of the party.
Mr Corbyn has urged people to "unite" behind him at a critical moment for the country: "I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning." Mr Corbyn has urged people to "unite" behind him at a critical moment for the country, saying he was democratically elected "for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters" and that he will "not betray them" by resigning.
Allies insist that he is "not going anywhere" and that Mr Corbyn wants to lead the party into the next general election. They say that after the Brexit vote and in the midst of a Conservative Party leadership contest, Labour should be focusing on opposing the government rather than getting involved in internal party battles. The next general election is not due to take place until 2020. New PM Theresa May has said she will not call an early election, but she may yet face pressure to do so - potentially within the next year.
The next general election is not due to take place until 2020. New Tory leader and PM Theresa May has said she will not call an early election, but she may yet face pressure to do so - potentially within the next year.
Can a sitting leader of the party be challenged?Can a sitting leader of the party be challenged?
In short, yes, but there are hurdles to overcome. In short, yes - but there are hurdles to overcome.
Anyone wishing to challenge Mr Corbyn needs the backing of 20% of Labour MPs and MEPs. Currently there are 231 Labour MPs and 20 Labour MEPs so any potential candidate needs the formal support of 51 of them.Anyone wishing to challenge Mr Corbyn needs the backing of 20% of Labour MPs and MEPs. Currently there are 231 Labour MPs and 20 Labour MEPs so any potential candidate needs the formal support of 51 of them.
If a nominee secures this level of support they must then write to Labour's general secretary Iain McNicol announcing their intention to run. Ms Eagle was the first to launch a challenge, which involved writing a letter to Labour's general secretary Iain McNicol announcing an intention to stand.
Angela Eagle, who was shadow business secretary until she joined the post-referendum shadow cabinet resignations, has launched a challenge. Former shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith has also said he will stand.
The party will announce the election timetable shortly, but the contest is expected to take two months, with the winner expected to be announced on the eve of the Labour Party conference on 24 September.
Why is Mr Corbyn automatically on the ballot paper?Why is Mr Corbyn automatically on the ballot paper?
The party's National Executive Committee has ruled that Jeremy Corbyn will be automatically included on the ballot in Labour's leadership contest. The party's National Executive Committee decided by 18 votes to 14 that Jeremy Corbyn should be automatically included on the ballot in Labour's leadership contest.
The secret NEC vote went 18-14 in the Labour leader's favour following hours of talks. This meant he did not need to secure MPs' backing.
However, some anti-Corbyn factions in the party believe he should not automatically have been allowed onto the ballot.However, some anti-Corbyn factions in the party believe he should not automatically have been allowed onto the ballot.
They pointed to a Times article in November 2015 which reported that legal advice had been sought by the party which suggested a sitting leader would need to receive nominations from MPs and MEPs in order to stand again.They pointed to a Times article in November 2015 which reported that legal advice had been sought by the party which suggested a sitting leader would need to receive nominations from MPs and MEPs in order to stand again.
It is possible that they could launch a legal challenge against the decision. Labour donor and former parliamentary candidate Michael Foster is launching a legal challenge to the party's ruling putting Mr Corbyn automatically on the ballot.
The only time since 1945 that a sitting Labour leader has been challenged was in 1988 when Tony Benn sought to topple Neil Kinnock. Neil Kinnock says he had to be endorsed by members of the Parliamentary Labour Party in order to get on the ballot paper - which some argue has set a precedent. Mr Corbyn says the electoral college system in place in 1988 has been replaced by "one member one vote" and says the rules are "absolutely clear" that "the existing leader, if challenged, should be on the ballot paper anyway". The only time since 1945 that a sitting Labour leader has been challenged was in 1988 when Tony Benn sought to topple Neil Kinnock. Neil Kinnock says he had to be endorsed by members of the Parliamentary Labour Party in order to get on the ballot paper - which some argue has set a precedent.
Who can vote in Labour leadership contest? Mr Corbyn says the electoral college system in place in 1988 has been replaced by "one member one vote" and says the rules are "absolutely clear" that "the existing leader, if challenged, should be on the ballot paper anyway".
Labour Party members, affiliated trade union supporters and so-called registered supporters are able to vote, although there are some key differences from the 2015 contest which Jeremy Corbyn won.
What happens if Jeremy Corbyn resigns?
If Mr Corbyn resigns, there would likely be a leadership election although there has been some talk about deputy leader Tom Watson taking over on an interim basis.
If a vacancy occurs while the party is in opposition and a leadership election is called, any candidate needs to secure the backing of 15% of the Parliamentary Labour Party or Labour MEPs - 38 in total - in order to put his or her name forward.
The contest would then be decided at a special conference.
Voting would again take place on a one-member-one-vote basis, with Labour Party members, affiliated trade union supporters and registered supporters all having a say. The winner would need 50% of the votes cast plus one.