Jeremy Corbyn will stay in leadership battle, judge decides

JEREMY Corbyn will remain on the ballot in the Labour leadership election after a judge threw out a lawsuit attempting to have him disqualified.

Jeremy Corbyn will remain in leadership battle. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Labour donor Michael Foster had claimed that the Labour Party’s rules were “misapplied” when its national executive committee (NEC) voted by a majority of 18 to 14 that Mr Corbyn should automatically go on the ballot paper without needing to obtain the backing of 20% of Labour MPs and MEPs - 51 nominations.

The dismissal of Mr Foster’s suit at the High Court by Mr Justice Foskett means the Labour leader will face Owen Smith in a head-to-head contest.

Mr Corbyn was not at London’s High Court on Thursday when Mr Justice Foskett dismissed Mr Foster’s claim.

In a statement, the Labour leader said: “I welcome the decision by the High Court to respect the democracy of the Labour Party.

“This has been a waste of time and resources when our party should be focused on holding the Government to account.

“There should have been no question of the right of half a million Labour Party members to choose their own leader being overturned. If anything, the aim should be to expand the number of voters in this election.

“I hope all candidates and supporters will reject any attempt to prolong this process, and that we can now proceed with the election in a comradely and respectful manner.”

Iain McNicol, the Labour Party general secretary who was named in the suit, said: “We are delighted that the court has upheld the authority and decision of the national executive committee of the Labour Party.

“We will continue with the leadership election as agreed by the NEC.”

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