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-36909862

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Labour leadership: Ruling due on Corbyn ballot challenge Labour leadership: Corbyn ballot challenge rejected
(about 17 hours later)
A judge will rule later on whether Labour's decision to allow Jeremy Corbyn to automatically stand for re-election as leader was lawful or not. A judge has rejected a challenge to Labour's decision to allow Jeremy Corbyn to automatically stand for re-election as leader.
Labour donor and ex-parliamentary candidate Michael Foster is challenging Mr Corbyn's inclusion without having had to secure MPs' nominations. Labour donor and ex-parliamentary candidate Michael Foster was challenging Mr Corbyn's inclusion without having to get MPs' nominations.
Labour's NEC decided, by 18 votes to 14, that Mr Corbyn could stand without needing nomination by 51 MPs and MEPs. Mr Corbyn called the court case a "waste of time and resources".
Legal arguments were heard from both sides in the High Court on Tuesday. Mr Foster said he would not be challenging the decision: "We wanted the courts to adjudicate... they have."
Mr Justice Foskett's reserved ruling, which could have major implications for the leadership contest and Mr Corbyn's future, is expected to be published on Thursday afternoon. He is also expected to spell out any grounds for appeal. It means the leadership contest - between Mr Corbyn and challenger Owen Smith, a former work and pensions spokesman - will continue as planned, with the outcome due on 24 September.
Mr Corbyn is facing a leadership challenge from former work and pensions spokesman Owen Smith, who - under the party's rules - had to win the support of 20% of its MPs and MEPs to trigger a contest. Under the party's rules Mr Smith had to win the support of 20% of its MPs and MEPs to trigger a contest. In the end, he secured 162 nominations after the other potential challenger Angela Eagle, who also initially passed the threshold for nominations, withdrew from the race.
In the end, he secured 162 nominations after the other potential challenger Angela Eagle, who also initially passed the threshold for nominations, withdrew from the race.
At a highly-charged meeting earlier this month, Labour's National Executive Committee decided that, as an incumbent, Mr Corbyn was entitled to a place on the ballot paper without having to go through the same process.At a highly-charged meeting earlier this month, Labour's National Executive Committee decided that, as an incumbent, Mr Corbyn was entitled to a place on the ballot paper without having to go through the same process.
Mr Corbyn lost a motion of no confidence in his leadership last month. In the vote, which was not binding on him, 172 out of Labour's 231 MPs opposed Mr Corbyn while 40 voted in his favour.Mr Corbyn lost a motion of no confidence in his leadership last month. In the vote, which was not binding on him, 172 out of Labour's 231 MPs opposed Mr Corbyn while 40 voted in his favour.
However, the Labour leader retains the support of many party members and activists who will vote in the election, leadership the outcome of which is scheduled to be announced on 24 September. However, the Labour leader retains the support of many party members and activists who will vote in the election.
The legal challenge has been brought by Mr Foster, who unsuccessfully stood as a Labour candidate at last year's general election in the Cornish seat of Camborne and Redruth, coming second to the Conservatives. The legal challenge was brought by Mr Foster, who unsuccessfully stood as a Labour candidate at last year's general election in the Cornish seat of Camborne and Redruth, coming second to the Conservatives.
In his three-page judgement, Mr Justice Foskett said the court's decision was on a narrow point of law and unaffected by political considerations.
He said his interpretation of Labour's leadership rules was that "the leader would not in that situation (where there is no vacancy) be someone who was a 'challenger' for the leadership and, accordingly, would require no nominations in order to compete in the ballot to retain his/her position as leader".
It concluded: "Accordingly, the judge accepted that the decision of the NEC was correct and that Mr Corbyn was entitled to be a candidate in the forthcoming election without the need for nominations."
Reacting to the judgement, leadership challenger Mr Smith said he was pleased, saying the court had "done the right thing".
"This now puts to bed any questions about the process, so we can get on with discussing the issues that really matter," he added, saying he looked forward to debating his rival "as often as possible about our plans for Labour's future".