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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour leadership: Donor to challenge Corbyn ballot ruling | Labour leadership: Donor to challenge Corbyn ballot ruling |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Labour donor is launching a legal challenge to the party's ruling that Jeremy Corbyn can be automatically included in the leadership ballot. | A Labour donor is launching a legal challenge to the party's ruling that Jeremy Corbyn can be automatically included in the leadership ballot. |
| Michael Foster, who donated £400,000, said he was worried about "apparent manipulation" of the rules after Labour's governing body voted 18-14 to allow the Labour leader on the ballot. | |
| His rivals Angela Eagle and Owen Smith need the backing of 51 MPs or MEPs. | His rivals Angela Eagle and Owen Smith need the backing of 51 MPs or MEPs. |
| Labour deputy leader Tom Watson called the legal challenge "very unhelpful". | |
| The party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) had made a decision, he said, and questioning that was "destabilising" to the party. | |
| "We must respect that decision and give our members a choice of candidates as soon as possible," he said. | |
| The Labour leadership contest was sparked when Ms Eagle, who resigned from Mr Corbyn's cabinet, announced she was challenging her leader and secured the necessary nominations. | The Labour leadership contest was sparked when Ms Eagle, who resigned from Mr Corbyn's cabinet, announced she was challenging her leader and secured the necessary nominations. |
| There was a dispute over the interpretation of Labour's rules, and whether they allowed Mr Corbyn to automatically defend his leadership, or whether he would also be required to secure 51 nominations. | There was a dispute over the interpretation of Labour's rules, and whether they allowed Mr Corbyn to automatically defend his leadership, or whether he would also be required to secure 51 nominations. |
| After a reportedly highly-charged meeting, at which Labour's governing body considered legal advice, the NEC ruled in Mr Corbyn's favour. | After a reportedly highly-charged meeting, at which Labour's governing body considered legal advice, the NEC ruled in Mr Corbyn's favour. |
| But Mr Foster, who stood as a parliamentary candidate in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle in Cornwall, said he was concerned that "everyone in the room had a different political agenda". | But Mr Foster, who stood as a parliamentary candidate in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle in Cornwall, said he was concerned that "everyone in the room had a different political agenda". |
| He insisted his legal challenge was "not about politics", saying: "I'm simply concerned that this is an important issue. It's about the rule of law. | He insisted his legal challenge was "not about politics", saying: "I'm simply concerned that this is an important issue. It's about the rule of law. |
| "The advice given was certainly not given the expert consideration given by a high court judge." | "The advice given was certainly not given the expert consideration given by a high court judge." |
| 'Determined to win' | 'Determined to win' |
| Mr Foster said three contrasting pieces of advice had been given by three different lawyers, and the matter must be considered by a neutral court of law. | Mr Foster said three contrasting pieces of advice had been given by three different lawyers, and the matter must be considered by a neutral court of law. |
| "When you conduct a membership association and it has a set of rules, you cannot, in Britain, a democracy that stands or falls by application of law, bend the rules to suit a particular circumstance or particular position," he added. | "When you conduct a membership association and it has a set of rules, you cannot, in Britain, a democracy that stands or falls by application of law, bend the rules to suit a particular circumstance or particular position," he added. |
| He expected a court to hear the case within days, he said. | He expected a court to hear the case within days, he said. |
| Who can vote in Labour leadership contest? | Who can vote in Labour leadership 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: | 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: |
| Speaking after Tuesday's decision, Mr Corbyn said he was "delighted" and would fight to keep his position. | Speaking after Tuesday's decision, Mr Corbyn said he was "delighted" and would fight to keep his position. |
| Ms Eagle said she welcomed the contest and was "determined" to win. | Ms Eagle said she welcomed the contest and was "determined" to win. |
| 'Turn the page' | |
| She said she had eventually decided to launch a formal challenge because Mr Corbyn was unwilling to stand down and she could provide the real leadership he could not. | |
| On Wednesday, Owen Smith, also a former shadow minister in Mr Corbyn's cabinet, announced he would also run. | On Wednesday, Owen Smith, also a former shadow minister in Mr Corbyn's cabinet, announced he would also run. |
| The Pontypridd MP, who quit as shadow work and pensions secretary last month, said he could "heal" the party and "turn the page" on its internal strife. | The Pontypridd MP, who quit as shadow work and pensions secretary last month, said he could "heal" the party and "turn the page" on its internal strife. |