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| Labour leadership: New members win right to vote | Labour leadership: New members win right to vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 125,000 Labour members not entitled to vote in the party's leadership contest could now be allowed to take part after a court ruling. | More than 125,000 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. | 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 has been granted permission to appeal against the ruling, which is thought likely to benefit leader Jeremy Corbyn over challenger Owen Smith. | The party has been granted permission 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 appeal could be heard on Thursday. |
| The court's decision could add anywhere between 126,592 and 150,000 people to the list of those eligible to vote in the contest - according to different estimates. | |
| Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who is running Mr Corbyn's re-election campaign, welcomed the judgement and called on Labour not to appeal it. | Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who is running Mr Corbyn's re-election campaign, welcomed the judgement and called on Labour not to appeal it. |
| "We are appalled by the possibility of an unnecessary and costly appeal. If it is taken forwards, the party will be using members' money to try to stop members from voting. This is unacceptable. | "We are appalled by the possibility of an unnecessary and costly appeal. If it is taken forwards, the party will be using members' money to try to stop members from voting. This is unacceptable. |
| "I'm calling on Owen Smith to join with us in backing party members and calling on the Labour Party not to appeal and attempt to disenfranchise members." | "I'm calling on Owen Smith to join with us in backing party members and calling on the Labour Party not to appeal and attempt to disenfranchise members." |
| Mr Smith said it would be up to Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to decide whether to press ahead with an appeal and it was not right for Mr McDonnell, or himself, to "interfere" in its decisions. | Mr Smith said it would be up to Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to decide whether to press ahead with an appeal and it was not right for Mr McDonnell, or himself, to "interfere" in its decisions. |
| But he added: "Whatever the rules are I am just going to play by them and continue to make my case and at the end of this I am confident that I can persuade the Labour Party that I am the right man to lead us, not just in opposition, but into government." | But he added: "Whatever the rules are I am just going to play by them and continue to make my case and at the end of this I am confident that I can persuade the Labour Party that I am the right man to lead us, not just in opposition, but into government." |
| A Labour spokesman said: "It is right that the Labour Party seeks to defend vigorously decisions of the National Executive Committee in this matter, and we will now study this judgement carefully." | A Labour spokesman said: "It is right that the Labour Party seeks to defend vigorously decisions of the National Executive Committee in this matter, and we will now study this judgement carefully." |
| Mr McDonnell said he accepted the decisions of the NEC "when they are in line with our democratic principles". | Mr McDonnell said he accepted the decisions of the NEC "when they are in line with our democratic principles". |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By political correspondent Iain Watson | By political correspondent Iain Watson |
| The judge was unequivocal - the five Labour members who had claimed they had been disenfranchised in the leadership contest had "wholly succeeded" in establishing their right to vote. | The judge was unequivocal - the five Labour members who had claimed they had been disenfranchised in the leadership contest had "wholly succeeded" in establishing their right to vote. |
| But the implications aren't as clear cut. | But the implications aren't as clear cut. |
| Certainly it's an administrative nightmare for Labour officials - they will have to send out something in the region of an extra 125,000 ballot papers in the next two weeks. | Certainly it's an administrative nightmare for Labour officials - they will have to send out something in the region of an extra 125,000 ballot papers in the next two weeks. |
| But the key question is who benefits? | But the key question is who benefits? |
| The widespread assumption is that newer members are likely to be more sympathetic to Jeremy Corbyn - joining to help rescue his beleaguered leadership. | The widespread assumption is that newer members are likely to be more sympathetic to Jeremy Corbyn - joining to help rescue his beleaguered leadership. |
| That's why a narrow majority of Labour NEC members introduced the six month rule at a controversial meeting in July when the leader had left the room. | That's why a narrow majority of Labour NEC members introduced the six month rule at a controversial meeting in July when the leader had left the room. |
| But many of the "disenfranchised" are likely to have registered subsequently as supporters, gaining a vote by this route. | But many of the "disenfranchised" are likely to have registered subsequently as supporters, gaining a vote by this route. |
| Owen Smith says he is happy with the outcome but the fact that the ruling was welcomed most warmly and swiftly by those close to Jeremy Corbyn is a big clue as to which side sees this as a victory. | Owen Smith says he is happy with the outcome but the fact that the ruling was welcomed most warmly and swiftly by those close to Jeremy Corbyn is a big clue as to which side sees this as a victory. |
| 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. | 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 High Court case was triggered after the NEC decided 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 after the NEC decided 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. |
| Labour leadership election timetable | Labour leadership election timetable |
| 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." |
| The judge 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". | The judge 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". |
| Kate Harrison, solicitor for the claimants, described it as "a good day for democracy", her clients and the Labour Party. | Kate Harrison, solicitor for the claimants, described it as "a good day for democracy", her clients and the Labour Party. |
| Under the terms of the judge's ruling, those who had paid £25 to become a registered supporter could now claim their money back, she added. | Under the terms of the judge's ruling, those who had paid £25 to become a registered supporter could now claim their money back, she added. |
| It is not known how many of the new members paid extra to get a vote in the contest. | It is not known how many of the new members paid extra to get a vote in the contest. |
| Asked whether they should be refunded, a move that could cost the party several million pounds, Mr McDonnell said the NEC "will have to abide" by the court's decision. | Asked whether they should be refunded, a move that could cost the party several million pounds, Mr McDonnell said the NEC "will have to abide" by the court's decision. |
| Most observers believe the majority of new members will back Mr Corbyn - the odds on him winning the contest were slashed in the aftermath of the court ruling. | Most observers believe the majority of new members will back Mr Corbyn - the odds on him winning the contest were slashed in the aftermath of the court ruling. |
| But Mr McDonnell said: "We don't know which way these members will vote. We can't tell. | But Mr McDonnell said: "We don't know which way these members will vote. We can't tell. |
| "All I'm saying is, whatever way they vote it doesn't matter, what's important is allowing democracy to rule." | "All I'm saying is, whatever way they vote it doesn't matter, what's important is allowing democracy to rule." |
| Crowdfunded challenge | Crowdfunded challenge |
| Reacting to the ruling Edward Leir - one of the claimants - said the court's ruling was a "victory for equality and inclusion". | Reacting to the ruling Edward Leir - one of the claimants - 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," he added. | "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," he added. |
| The others in the group - who have been crowdfunded and are seeking to raise £40,000 to cover their legal costs - were Christine Evangelou, Hannah Fordham, Chris Granger and "FM", a new member aged under 18. | The others in the group - who have been crowdfunded and are seeking to raise £40,000 to cover their legal costs - were Christine Evangelou, Hannah Fordham, Chris Granger and "FM", a new member aged under 18. |