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-25759106
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Ed Miliband wants Labour leadership election rule change | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Labour Party is considering changing the way its leader is elected as part of talks about the future of its relationship with the unions. | |
The BBC's Ross Hawkins says Ed Miliband was proposing change - with "one member, one vote" among the options. | |
But trade union sources have accused Labour MPs of resisting reforms over fears they will lose influence. | |
The reforms could spell the end of the "electoral college" system for choosing Labour leaders, including Mr Miliband. | |
The system sees party members, MPs and MEPs, and organisations affiliated to the party like unions get a third of the vote each. | |
'Sham' | |
A union source told the BBC that Labour MPs were resisting the prospect, anxious that their votes would be diluted in future as they would no longer represent a third of the college. | |
A senior Labour source said: "Ed has always been clear that the scale of his reforms mean there are likely to be consequences for other rules and structures in the Labour Party." | |
Earlier, the GMB leader Paul Kenny said talks led by a former party official - Ray Collins - had broken down. This has been rejected by Labour. | |
The party source said: "Ray Collins has yet to publish his report and you get this sort of speculation emerging in public when detailed discussions are taking place in private." | |
There will be a special party conference in March to discuss the changes. | |
Conservative MP Priti Patel said: "As we have known all along, these so-called 'reforms' are a sham. Nothing has changed." | Conservative MP Priti Patel said: "As we have known all along, these so-called 'reforms' are a sham. Nothing has changed." |
Funding cut | |
Mr Miliband wants to reform his party's historic link with the unions, with individual union members given the choice of opting in to join the party, rather than being automatically affiliated. | |
It is understood the unions were not willing to change voting arrangements for Labour conferences, or for the party's national executive. | It is understood the unions were not willing to change voting arrangements for Labour conferences, or for the party's national executive. |
Instead, they have proposed a formula which would see new union members, and eventually existing members, specify that they wanted to be affiliated to Labour. | Instead, they have proposed a formula which would see new union members, and eventually existing members, specify that they wanted to be affiliated to Labour. |
It was thought that this would be "radical" enough to satisfy Mr Miliband. | |
The BBC's Iain Watson said the unions were on the verge of agreeing that the electoral college should be abolished - not for conference votes, just for the leadership election - so all members, including the 'opted-in', union-affiliated members, would get one vote each. | The BBC's Iain Watson said the unions were on the verge of agreeing that the electoral college should be abolished - not for conference votes, just for the leadership election - so all members, including the 'opted-in', union-affiliated members, would get one vote each. |
Labour sources say the leadership election is not the only stumbling block - there are also technical issues, such as concern that accessing union membership lists could breach data protection laws. | |
The GMB has already decided to drastically cut its funding of Labour in protest at the reforms, and other unions could follow suit if there is no agreement. | The GMB has already decided to drastically cut its funding of Labour in protest at the reforms, and other unions could follow suit if there is no agreement. |
Lord Collins is due to report to a meeting of Labour's executive on 4 February, ahead of the special conference in London. | Lord Collins is due to report to a meeting of Labour's executive on 4 February, ahead of the special conference in London. |