Centrists expect key conference victory to curb Corbyn’s power

A series of controversial rule changes likely to weaken Jeremy Corbyn’s control of the Labour Party are expected to be ratified after days of wrangling at conference in Liverpool.

Devolution measures for Scottish and Welsh Labour, an expansion of the ruling national executive committee (NEC), policy powers for women’s conferences and an explicit banning of illegal budgets are among the major reforms.

The changes were voted on as one package – a decision that went down badly with some who wanted to be able to debate and vote on each reform individually.

But with the Unite union expected to have abstained on the vote, the result is now seen as a formality, with one senior insider saying only an unexpected “major upset” would see the rules rejected. Despite vehement opposition, many delegates were swayed by further devolution within the party, increasing the autonomy of the Welsh and Scottish Labour parties.

The result of the vote will be confirmed around 4pm today.

Among the most contentious elements was a change that means Carwyn Jones, the Welsh Labour leader, and Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, will each be able to choose a member of their frontbenches to join the NEC. As Jones and Dugdale are both seen to be sceptical of Corbyn’s leadership, it is likely that they will select two centrists into the roles. With the political make-up of the NEC so finely balanced, this would result in a small majority against Corbyn.

LabourList understands that both Jones and Dugdale have decided who they will be nominating, and the new NEC members will be announced this evening.

A rowdy debate in the conference hall this morning saw a fourth attempt to stop the reforms, with delegates arguing against the Conference Arrangements Committee’s (CAC) ruling that the reforms be packaged into one vote. One speaker said that the move was an attempt to “gerrymander the NEC”, while Corbyn allies on the NEC failed in their own attempts to delay the expansion of Labour’s ruling body.

This will be seen as a significant victory for the anti-Corbyn wings of the party, handing them control of the NEC and handing greater power over Westminster selections to the Welsh and Scottish Labour parties. That is likely to have an effect on who is selected to stand in the next general election, and could act as a buffer to any moves to introduce mandatory re-selection.

The rule that explicitly stops Labour councillors supporting illegal budgets is also a symbolic win for centrists, especially coming in Liverpool, where the Militant-run council set an illegal “deficit budget” in the 1980s.

UPDATE: The rule changes passed as expected, with 80 per cent of votes.