A proposal to have Labour leadership contenders make the ballot without any MP supporting them has gained the support of 21 local parties.
The idea has been submitted by constituency Labour parties (CLPs), which would make it possible to have a leadership contender without having any parliamentary colleagues supporting them.
It is one of several potentially controversial ideas that could go before conference this year, to be debated at 2018 conference, according to reports in HuffPost.
Another would see the position of party general secretary become elected, with three yearly elections. Many suspect that this would mean the end of Iain McNicol’s time in the top job, who has come in for criticism from some on the left of the party, although others believe he has performed well during a turbulent period.
Fierce supporter of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership Chris Williamson wrote in The Guardian last month that he felt MPs shouldn’t have a specific say in who makes the ballot, as they represent a “tiny percentage” of the whole party.
When contacted, Labour declined to comment on the ideas.
Richard Angell, the director of Progress, said about the proposals: “The Momentum forces behind the McDonnell amendment – the proposal to flood the next leadership care with up to 19 candidates and allow just a handful of MP to get someone on a future leadership ballot – are already organising for their ‘plan B’ if the motion at this year’s conference falls.”
“This relentless attack on the members of parliament that millions of the public voted for threatens to make a farce of Labour and help the Tories retain power. Momentum should stop treating party democracy and our MPs in such contempt and focus on beating the Tories.”
“The reveal of what Momentum are really up to also makes a mockery of the 10 per cent compromise at this year’s conference. It exposes that they will do anything to take factional control rather than build unity,” he concluded.
More from LabourList
What are Labour MPs reading, watching and listening to this Christmas?
‘Musk’s possible Reform donation shows we urgently need…reform of donations’
Full list of new Labour peers set to join House of Lords