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| Labour leadership: New members win right to vote | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Up to 126,592 Labour members not entitled to vote in the party's leadership contest could now be allowed to take part after a court ruling. | |
| Five members have won a High Court battle with Labour, which had banned anyone who joined after 12 January from voting unless they paid an extra £25. | |
| The party is to appeal against the ruling, which is thought likely to benefit leader Jeremy Corbyn over challenger Owen Smith. | |
| The appeal could be heard on Thursday. | |
| The five members that brought the legal challenge argued the ban amounted to a breach of contract, saying they had "paid their dues" for a right to vote. | |
| Ballot papers are due to be sent out on 22 August, with the outcome of the leadership election scheduled for 24 September. | Ballot papers are due to be sent out on 22 August, with the outcome of the leadership election scheduled for 24 September. |
| The court's decision could add as many as 126,592 people to the list of those eligible to vote in the contest, an expansion of about a third of the membership. | The court's decision could add as many as 126,592 people to the list of those eligible to vote in the contest, an expansion of about a third of the membership. |
| There was no way of verifying the motivations of those who have signed up in the past six months but both leadership teams say overturning the ban is likely to be beneficial to Mr Corbyn. | |
| 'Victory for equality' | 'Victory for equality' |
| The High Court case was triggered by the decision by Labour's governing body, the National Executive Committee's (NEC), that full members could only vote if they had at least six months' continuous membership up to July 12 - the "freeze date". | The High Court case was triggered by the decision by Labour's governing body, the National Executive Committee's (NEC), that full members could only vote if they had at least six months' continuous membership up to July 12 - the "freeze date". |
| But the party offered a window from 18-20 July when they - and non-members - could pay £25 to become "registered supporters" and gain the right to vote. | But the party offered a window from 18-20 July when they - and non-members - could pay £25 to become "registered supporters" and gain the right to vote. |
| Delivering his judgement, Mr Justice Hickinbottom said: "For the party to refuse to allow the claimants to vote in the current leadership election, because they have not been members since 12 January 2016, would be unlawful as in breach of contract." | Delivering his judgement, Mr Justice Hickinbottom said: "For the party to refuse to allow the claimants to vote in the current leadership election, because they have not been members since 12 January 2016, would be unlawful as in breach of contract." |
| He said at the time each of the five joined the party "it was the common understanding, as reflected in the rule book, that, if they joined the party prior to the election process commencing, as new members they would be entitled to vote in any leadership contest". | He said at the time each of the five joined the party "it was the common understanding, as reflected in the rule book, that, if they joined the party prior to the election process commencing, as new members they would be entitled to vote in any leadership contest". |
| Reacting to the ruling Edward Leir - one of the five who brought the legal challenge - said the court's ruling was a "victory for equality and inclusion". | Reacting to the ruling Edward Leir - one of the five who brought the legal challenge - said the court's ruling was a "victory for equality and inclusion". |
| "This judgement is a vindication that the political process should be fair, democratic and inclusive; that political parties, like any other organisation, must uphold its rules fairly to those who support them. | "This judgement is a vindication that the political process should be fair, democratic and inclusive; that political parties, like any other organisation, must uphold its rules fairly to those who support them. |
| "More widely, this is a victory for equality and inclusion. Political parties must keep their promises, just as we all reasonably expect anyone else to in other aspects of our lives," he said. | "More widely, this is a victory for equality and inclusion. Political parties must keep their promises, just as we all reasonably expect anyone else to in other aspects of our lives," he said. |
| The others in the group were Christine Evangelou, Hannah Fordham, Chris Granger and "FM", a new member aged under 18. | The others in the group were Christine Evangelou, Hannah Fordham, Chris Granger and "FM", a new member aged under 18. |
| They have been crowdfunded and are seeking to raise £40,000 to cover their legal costs. | They have been crowdfunded and are seeking to raise £40,000 to cover their legal costs. |
| Kate Harrison, solicitor for the claimants, said it was "a good day for democracy, a good day for my clients who are proud to be members of the party that stands for social justice, and a good day for the Labour Party". | |
| "This case was about the right to vote under the Labour Party constitution, under which all members are equal and valued," she said. | |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Labour would have to "go back to the drawing board" and find a way of "re-enfranchising" these members if it loses a subsequent appeal. | |
| Labour leadership election timetable | Labour leadership election timetable |