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| Labour leadership election: Major party donor mounts legal action against Jeremy Corbyn ruling | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One of Labour's biggest donors has announced he will legally challenge the party's decision to allow Jeremy Corbyn onto the leadership ballot without seeking nominations. | One of Labour's biggest donors has announced he will legally challenge the party's decision to allow Jeremy Corbyn onto the leadership ballot without seeking nominations. |
| Michael Foster, whose family has given £400,000 to the Labour Party, said he was concerned over the "apparent manipulation" of party rules by the ruling body, the National Executive Committee (NEC). | Michael Foster, whose family has given £400,000 to the Labour Party, said he was concerned over the "apparent manipulation" of party rules by the ruling body, the National Executive Committee (NEC). |
| On Tuesday the NEC voted 18-14 to allow Mr Corbyn onto the leadership ballot without the backing of 51 MPs or MEPs. Both Angela Eagle and Owen Smith are still required to reach that threshold. | On Tuesday the NEC voted 18-14 to allow Mr Corbyn onto the leadership ballot without the backing of 51 MPs or MEPs. Both Angela Eagle and Owen Smith are still required to reach that threshold. |
| Mr Foster, who once stood as the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle in Cornwall, said: "I'm simply concerned that this is an important issue. It's about the rule of law. | Mr Foster, who once stood as the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle in Cornwall, said: "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. |
| "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." | "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 insists his legal challenge was "not about politics" and expects the court to hear the case within days, the BBC reports. | He insists his legal challenge was "not about politics" and expects the court to hear the case within days, the BBC reports. |
| Tom Watson, deputy leader of the Labour party, said: "This legal challenge is very unhelpful and destabilising to the Labour Party. | Tom Watson, deputy leader of the Labour party, said: "This legal challenge is very unhelpful and destabilising to the Labour Party. |
| "The NEC made a decision. They ruled that Jeremy Corbyn is automatically on the ballot paper. | "The NEC made a decision. They ruled that Jeremy Corbyn is automatically on the ballot paper. |
| "We must respect that decision and give our members a choice of candidates as soon as possible." | "We must respect that decision and give our members a choice of candidates as soon as possible." |
| Mr Foster caused controversy in September last year for heckling Jeremy Corbyn after the party leader failed to say "Israel" at a Labour friends of Israel meeting in Brighton. | Mr Foster caused controversy in September last year for heckling Jeremy Corbyn after the party leader failed to say "Israel" at a Labour friends of Israel meeting in Brighton. |
| Mr Foster could be heard repeatedly shouting: "Say the word Israel." | Mr Foster could be heard repeatedly shouting: "Say the word Israel." |