The decision by Labour chiefs to close the gate on nominations for the party leadership before the campaign has barely got under way provoked an outcry in the party.
It provides a window of just four days for prospective candidates to organise their supporters between the formal opening and closing of nominations, leading to claims that the contest will be dominated by an establishment hierarchy with a wider field of possible candidates squeezed out. Amid widespread protests, one member of the ruling National Executive Committee, Peter Kenyon, angrily denounced the move as “a coup”.
The NEC chose to hold a four-month leadership contest this week, despite pressure from supporters of the Miliband brothers – the only declared candidates at the time of the meeting – to hold a shorter contest ending in the summer. Candidates need nominations from 34 Labour MPs to stand, and can submit them from next week.
But several influential Labour MPs responded angrily after the decision to allocate four days – May 24 to 27 – for the submission of nominations, giving would-be candidates just nine days from the meeting on Tuesday May 18 to find 34 signatories. Critics say this benefits high-profile ex-ministers who have already declared. NEC members indicated to Tribune that the four-day window – proposed by general secretary Ray Collins – did not seem negotiable.
Jon Trickett, Gordon Brown’s former aide, called the decision “deeply regrettable” and said MPs could not know so soon if the candidates were good enough. Left-winger John McDonnell, who announced his candidacy this week, told Tribune: “It cuts everyone out of the picture. They won’t be able to go back to their constituencies and consult rank and file members. Leave aside my interests in standing – objectively it doesn’t help the party.” Jon Cruddas, who has indicated a desire to serve the party in a non-leadership role, said: “I’ve known some of [the contenders] for 20 years and I don’t know what they stand for, and I won’t be able to make up my mind in nine days’ time”.
Constituency parties will be unable to make their own nominations and will be restricted to the option of “supporting nominations” for those who made it under the wire. At the time of going to press, these were Ed and David Miliband, Ed Balls Andy Burnham and backbenchers Diane Abbott and John McDonnell. The winner will be announced on the eve of the party conference.
The NEC also rejected proposals from Peter Kenyon to send out nomination papers for a deputy leadership contest, meaning acting leader Harriet Harman is unlikely to be challenged; and from Christine Shawcroft to reduce the number of MP nominations needed for the leadership.
Key unions believe that opening up a deputy election would be seen as an implicit attack on Ms Harman.
