In a reversal of a previous decision by the high court, voters that joined the party over the last six months — many thousands of them supporters of party leader Jeremy Corbyn — will be denied a vote for the leadership.
Corbyn has come under greater and greater criticism by the executive members of the Labour party following Brexit, despite record party membership numbers during his time as leader. The established party members have attempted to resign in protest, tried to keep Corbyn off the leadership ballot through a manipulation of party rules, used a wealthy financial backer to attempt to overturn a court decision on that same artful dodge, and have now worked to deny the voices of many thousands of their newest party members.
A ruling by three court of appeal judges has come to the aid of the National Executive Committee in their efforts to control the upcoming leadership contest between incumbent Jeremy Corbyn and challenger Owen Smith. The high court of the UK had previously ruled in favour of five new Labour members who had sued the party in order to allow new members to vote for party leadership. In an effort to reverse that decision, the party general secretary Iain McNicol appealed the ruling, acting on behalf of the entire party.
McNicol, not the most active twitter user, had no comment regarding the ruling on his account. But plenty of others had thoughts to share online.
This article says it all: Congratulations, Labour – you just wrecked your own party for no reason at all August 12, 2016
@Hepworthclare @JeremyCorbyn4PM #NECruling I have not been this #upset, #angry and #hurt since I dropped a kitchen worktop on my toe in 1993
— Marcus Harman (@paperwarbird) August 12, 2016
Regardless of political leaning/views on Corbyn, disenfranchising voters is wrong. I'm off to the pub in protest August 12, 2016
While the majority of Twitter users seem to sway towards that younger demographic — which this writer assumes is likely part of that segment the NEC has seen fit to deny a vote in the leadership contest — some were happy about the ruling, of course.
Today's Court of Appeal judgment is a huge victory for long term members who deserve protection from entryists. August 12, 2016
Good to see #Labour NEC can make decisions about the party and they can do so legally.
— Cllr Neale Gibson (@cllrnealegibson) August 12, 2016
With the added control allowed the NEC by the court ruling, it will be interesting to see if any other regulations or rule-massaging occurs within the coming weeks.
