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Ed Miliband prepared to end electoral college for selecting Labour leader Ed Miliband prepared to end electoral college for selecting Labour leader
(34 minutes later)
Ed Miliband is prepared to end the electoral college for electing the Labour leader as part of reforms to the party's links with the unions. Ed Miliband is prepared to end the electoral college system for electing the Labour leader as part of reforms to the party's links with the unions.
A dispute between Miliband and the unions over their role in the election of a future party leader has emerged as the chief stumbling block to an agreement between the two sides over a package of reform. A dispute between Miliband and the unions over their role in the election of a future party leader has emerged as the biggest obstacle to an agreement between the two sides.
Paul Kenny, the general secretary of from the GMB union, said the talks had broken down, but Labour said they were continuing. Paul Kenny, the general secretary of the GMB union, said the talks had broken down, but Labour said they were continuing.
Miliband wants to ensure that only union members who have made a decision to become associate members are able to vote in the election of Labour leader– and he is prepared to end the electoral college in which MPs have a third of the vote, party members a third and union political levy payers a third. Miliband wants to ensure that only union members who have made a decision to become associate members are able to vote in the election of the Labour leader– and he is prepared to end the electoral college in which MPs have a third of the vote, party members a third and union political levy payers a third.
Miliband has been looking at the possibility of MPs being responsible for the nomination of the candidates for leader to ensure they do not have someone foisted upon them that they oppose. Miliband has been looking at the possibility of MPs being responsible for the nomination of candidates to ensure they do not have someone foisted upon them that they oppose.
At present anyone that has paid the political levy in a union is allowed to vote in the Labour leadership, and a union member has to decide whether to opt out of paying the levy. At present anyone that has paid the political levy in a union is allowed to vote in the Labour leadership poll, and a union member has to decide whether to opt out of paying the levy.
In future Miliband only wants union members who opt into the associate membership of the party to have a vote. In future Miliband only wants union members who opt in to the associate membership of the party to have a vote.
There have been complaints that too many political levy payers are not Labour supporters and should not have a future role in the election of party leader. There have been complaints that too many political levy payers are not Labour supporters and should not have a future role in the leadership election.
The unions have been suggested that Miliband is unwilling to compromise over the role of MPs continuing to have a vote, but that is disputed by Labour sources. The unions have suggested that Miliband is unwilling to compromise over the role of MPs, but that is disputed by Labour sources.
The party's national executive is due to meet on 4 February to discuss the issue. A special conference will follow on 1 March.The party's national executive is due to meet on 4 February to discuss the issue. A special conference will follow on 1 March.
Lord Collins, a former Labour party and union official, has been holding discussions with union officials for months in a bid to reach agreement. Lord Collins, a former Labour party and union official, has been holding discussions with union officials for months. He is due to report to the party's executive at the 4 February meeting.
Union officials said they believed an outline of a deal had been reached before Christmas, including the abolition of the electoral college used to elect Labour's leader. Unions said they believed an outline of a deal had been reached before Christmas, including the abolition of the electoral college.
Collins is due to report to at the February meeting of the party's executive on February 4. A Labour spokesman said: "Ed has made clear he wants radical reform. Ray Collins has yet to publish his report and you get this sort of speculation emerging in public when negotiations are taking place in private.
"Ed has always been clear that the scale of his reforms mean that there are likely to be consequences for other rules and structures in the Labour party. He is proposing we change the way we elect our party leaders and discussions on party reform are ongoing."
The GMB has already decided to drastically cut its party funding in protest against the reforms. Other unions might follow suit if there is no agreement.The GMB has already decided to drastically cut its party funding in protest against the reforms. Other unions might follow suit if there is no agreement.
Asked about the likelihood of a deal, Kenny said: "There were discussions taking place, which have broken down." He declined to comment further.Asked about the likelihood of a deal, Kenny said: "There were discussions taking place, which have broken down." He declined to comment further.
Labour MP Ian Lavery has described the planned reforms as the "biggest political gamble" in the history of the party, warning that Labour could lose millions of pounds from union affiliation fees. Labour MP Ian Lavery has described the planned reforms as the biggest political gamble in the history of the party, warning that Labour could lose millions of pounds from union affiliation fees.
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