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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/27/jeremy-corbyn-expected-to-lose-majority-support-of-labour-nec
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| Jeremy Corbyn expected to lose majority support of Labour NEC | Jeremy Corbyn expected to lose majority support of Labour NEC |
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| Jeremy Corbyn is set to lose his majority on Labour’s national executive committee after a fierce debate at the party conference in Liverpool, where it was accused of trying to rig the balance of the party executive. | Jeremy Corbyn is set to lose his majority on Labour’s national executive committee after a fierce debate at the party conference in Liverpool, where it was accused of trying to rig the balance of the party executive. |
| Conference will vote on Tuesday on controversial rule changes to let Labour leaders in Scotland and Wales nominate one person each to sit on the NEC. | Conference will vote on Tuesday on controversial rule changes to let Labour leaders in Scotland and Wales nominate one person each to sit on the NEC. |
| The issue is more about Welsh and Scottish representation at the top of the party, but the extra NEC seats would be seen as a key win for the anti-Corbyn faction in the party. | |
| Some delegates called the process a stitch-up and gerrymandering, but the motion is expected to be comfortably carried by a vote later on Tuesday. | Some delegates called the process a stitch-up and gerrymandering, but the motion is expected to be comfortably carried by a vote later on Tuesday. |
| Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, and Carwyn Jones, her Welsh counterpart, have been critical of Corbyn. Giving them each the right to nominate an NEC member would mean Corbyn’s allies would lose their majority support on the committee, despite six new leftwing candidates being elected to the executive this summer. | Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, and Carwyn Jones, her Welsh counterpart, have been critical of Corbyn. Giving them each the right to nominate an NEC member would mean Corbyn’s allies would lose their majority support on the committee, despite six new leftwing candidates being elected to the executive this summer. |
| The party leadership had attempted to insist the new Scottish and Welsh NEC representatives be chosen by members, but it was overruled. | The party leadership had attempted to insist the new Scottish and Welsh NEC representatives be chosen by members, but it was overruled. |
| On Tuesday morning, despite protests from party members and union representatives, delegates voted overwhelmingly to allow NEC rule changes to be put through as one package, alongside measures popular with Corbyn supporters such as allowing a sitting leader to be automatically on the ballot. That means it is almost inevitable that conference will pass the rule changes. | On Tuesday morning, despite protests from party members and union representatives, delegates voted overwhelmingly to allow NEC rule changes to be put through as one package, alongside measures popular with Corbyn supporters such as allowing a sitting leader to be automatically on the ballot. That means it is almost inevitable that conference will pass the rule changes. |
| At a furious session of morning conference, the general secretary of the TSSA union, Manuel Cortes, asked for a “reference back” so delegates could vote on all 15 proposed rule changes separately. | At a furious session of morning conference, the general secretary of the TSSA union, Manuel Cortes, asked for a “reference back” so delegates could vote on all 15 proposed rule changes separately. |
| Despite loud protests from some delegates, the chair Paddy Lillis said there was a clear majority against voting for the rule changes separately. | Despite loud protests from some delegates, the chair Paddy Lillis said there was a clear majority against voting for the rule changes separately. |
| During the debate, the Momentum activist Max Shanly, a Young Labour delegate, tore into NEC members onstage in the conference hall, saying the party was “attempting to rig the discussion”. | During the debate, the Momentum activist Max Shanly, a Young Labour delegate, tore into NEC members onstage in the conference hall, saying the party was “attempting to rig the discussion”. |
| Leigh Drennan, the chair of North-west Young Labour, also gave an angry speech, saying the rule change was “essentially a stitch-up of the NEC” to loud applause and cheers from supporters in the balcony. | Leigh Drennan, the chair of North-west Young Labour, also gave an angry speech, saying the rule change was “essentially a stitch-up of the NEC” to loud applause and cheers from supporters in the balcony. |
| “It disenfranchises members because it is the leaders who appoint themselves,” he said. “All members should be able to put themselves forward to represent their nation. It’s common sense.” | “It disenfranchises members because it is the leaders who appoint themselves,” he said. “All members should be able to put themselves forward to represent their nation. It’s common sense.” |
| David Flat, another constituency Labour party delegate, said he was “appalled at the lack of democracy and gerrymandering that’s going in our party” and that it was being bamboozled into changing the rules. | David Flat, another constituency Labour party delegate, said he was “appalled at the lack of democracy and gerrymandering that’s going in our party” and that it was being bamboozled into changing the rules. |
| The Scottish MSP Jackie Baillie said she was appalled at the attempts to block the change because of party factionalism. “If we put internal politics ahead of the interests of the people of Scotland and Wales, we will pay a price for it,” she warned. | The Scottish MSP Jackie Baillie said she was appalled at the attempts to block the change because of party factionalism. “If we put internal politics ahead of the interests of the people of Scotland and Wales, we will pay a price for it,” she warned. |
| The new power balance on the NEC will be make it less likely the leadership will be able to institute sweeping party reforms, including rumoured moves to permit open selections after boundary changes. MPs fear that could lead to Momentum-backed candidates standing against sitting MPs in a battle for the new constituencies. | The new power balance on the NEC will be make it less likely the leadership will be able to institute sweeping party reforms, including rumoured moves to permit open selections after boundary changes. MPs fear that could lead to Momentum-backed candidates standing against sitting MPs in a battle for the new constituencies. |