You are in > manchester.com  > News > Labour rejects call for leadership ballots

Politics

Labour rejects call for leadership ballots

16/09/2008

Labour's National Executive Committee has ruled out sending party members leadership nomination papers.

Rebels had planned to use today's meeting of the committee to force senior party figures to abide by an obscure clause in the party's constitution saying the papers should be sent out every year just before the party conference.

Messages coming from Portcullis House, where the meeting is taking place, indicate the decision was made without dissent. It was the first subject the meeting discussed.

Yesterday the party's general secretary Ray Collins refused to distribute the forms, saying the clause which specifies the need for it does not pertain when the party is in power.

The clause in question states that "where there is no vacancy, nominations shall be sought each year prior to the annual session of the party conference".

Dianne Hayter, NEC chair, said: "The NEC fully endorses the view of the Labour party's general secretary and the party's independent legal advisors.

"A Leadership election when in government can only be held if requested by a majority of party conference on a card vote, only Labour MPs can trigger the process and the NEC is confident that most MPs know their responsibilities under the rules.

"The Labour party has followed this procedure for 11 years, as long as we have been in government under these present rules, and it has not required the issue of nomination forms at any time.

"The NEC has a responsibility to ensure the party follows these long-standing procedures and we will do so. The Labour party will not waver from its historic responsibilities to our country and to those in greatest need."

The news came just moments after it was revealed Janet Anderson, one of the Labour rebels, pulled out of this morning's meeting.

Rumours are also circulating that David Cairns, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Scotland Office, has already resigned. Downing Street says it has no knowledge of him doing so.

The meeting comes as at least one anonymous minister told media sources he was considering quitting the government, indicating the rebels' attempt to gain high-level support may be proving successful.

"You can't go on saying 'I think Gordon Brown is the man to lead us to victory' when you don't believe it," he told the BBC.

Yesterday, a third rebel – forestry envoy Barry Gardiner – lost his position for calling for calling on the clause to be implemented. The sacking follows that of Siobhain McDonagh, junior whip, and Joan Ryan, vice chair.