UK court to decide on Corbyn’s right to run for re-election
UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s right to stand for re-election in the party’s upcoming leadership vote will be determined in a courtroom.
The court, which will go into session later on Tuesday, would review a decision by the party that allowed Corbyn to automatically run for re-election without having to secure nominations from 50 Labour MPs and MEPs, as stated by the rules.
The case was filed by donor and former parliament candidate Michael Foster, who accuses the party of "apparent manipulation" of the rules without considering legal advice.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) authorized Corbyn’s bid in an 18-14 vote earlier this month.
This is while former BBC producer Owen Smith had to appeal to at least 20 percent of MPs and MEPs in order to get his name on the ballot as Corbyn’s sole challenger.
Corbyn’s opponents challenged his leadership for what they call inadequate efforts to keep the UK in the European Union (EU).
Nearly 52 percent of British voters made it clear in a referendum on June 23 that they wanted their country out of the bloc. Corbyn was a fierce opponent of the decision and vouched for a stronger UK role in the EU instead.
Corbyn and Smith have until September 21 to appeal to voters and party members. The results will be announced in a Liverpool conference three days later.
Meanwhile, Labour is also being sued by a group of its members who were deprived from their right to vote after an NEC ruling.
The NEC only allows those who signed up on or before January 12, to take part in the leadership vote. Nearly 130,000 people who joined the party since then should either pay a £25 fee or register through an affiliated union.
“We have called on the party to reconsider its decision, but it has not proven forthcoming. We believe the only way we can retrieve our rights is by taking the party to court,” the challengers of the membership cutoff said in a statement.
Corbyn supports the group’s right to vote, saying, “they joined because they want to be involved in the party and they’re not being allowed to.”
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