Britain: Corbyn Survives Vote to Remain on Labor Ballot
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A committee in the Britain's Labor Party has decided that leader Jeremy Corbyn has the right to automatically appear on a ballot for a new leadership vote, amid efforts by members of parliament to oust him.
During a long meeting on Tuesday night, the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) decided in a secret ballot that Corbyn, who comes from the party's left, has the right to appear on a ballot and defend his leadership if challenged.
Corbyn's opponents insisted that he needed the support of 51 MPs, or 20 percent of their total number, in order to appear on the ballot.
The decision may still be challenged in court.
"The NEC has agreed that as the incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn will go forward onto the ballot without requiring nominations from the Parliamentary Labor Party (PLP) and the European Parliamentary Labor Party (EPLP)," a party spokesman said in a statement, Al Jazeera reported.
"All other leadership candidates will require nominations from 20 percent of the PLP and EPLP."
While a growing number of MPs oppose Corbyn, he commands the popular support of party members and supporters.
Corbyn's shadow cabinet endured a wave of resignations last month, with many MPs demanding that he stepped down.
More than two-thirds of Labor MPs, 172, backed a motion of no-confidence in Corbyn's leadership last week; 40 voted to support him.
His former shadow business secretary, Angela Eagle, announced on Monday that she is standing against Corbyn for the leadership of the party.
"Jeremy Corbyn is unable to provide the leadership that this huge task needs," she told press and supporters on Monday. "I believe I can."
But Corbyn said he will win any vote due to his popularity among party members and supporters. He was voted into the leadership with nearly 60 percent support in September 2015.
A recent study by academics from Queen Mary University and Sussex University found that 55 percent of Labor members who joined since May 2015 support deselecting MPs who challenge Corbyn's leadership.
Deselection is the process of replacing MPs with new candidates in future elections.
Corbyn said his re-election campaign would be based on tackling inequality and poverty in Britain, adding that he would be reaching out to everyone in the party.
