Despite the muttered predictions from some of the leadership campaigns, Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee has today decided on a set of rules for its leadership contest that even a really committed conspiracy theorist would struggle to badge a ‘stitch-up’.
The timetable is very slightly longer – Jeremy Corbyn will remain Labour leader until 4 April when his successor is announced – and the rules on registered supporters applying to be able to vote are the same as in the 2016 contest. Candidates have a week to get enough nominations from MPs and MEPs (the threshold is 22). If they succeed, they progress to a second phase, lasting a month, in which they either need the backing of five per cent of the vote held by trade unions or affiliated organisations or at least 33 nominations from constituency Labour parties.
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With just a week to secure the backing of MPs and MEPs, some candidates will struggle, though this is probably a sign they would fare poorly in the wider contest.
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