Plans to make it easier to deselect Labour MPs ‘will be revealed at party conference’
The party also wants to speed up the return of members previously booted out
PLANS to make it easier to deselect Labour MPs and to speed up the return of members previously booted out of the party will be revealed at the party conference, it was reported last night.
A proposal to make it easier to accept supporters from hard-left groups is also due to be unveiled at the party’s conference.
As the row over anti-semitism and bullying intensifies, local Labour groups want to overhaul party rules to give more power to the membership, The Observer reported.
The most controversial proposal would scrap a rule introduced during the party infighting of the 1980s – which bars members supporting “A political organisation other than an official Labour group”.
Another proposal would allow those previously expelled from the party to reapply for membership within as little as a year instead of the current period of five years.
If passed, the measures are likely to place even greater strain on the relationship between Jeremy Corbyn and many of his centrist MPs.
MP for Birkenhead Frank Field resigned the whip last week citing a “culture of nastiness, bullying and intimidation” as his reason.
MPs are now demanding an emergency meeting of the parliamentary party when they return to Westminster to try to curb the antisemitism scandal.
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A senior Labour backbencher told The Observer: “It is up to the leadership to keep this party together.”
They added: “The leadership will end up being the midwife of any new party that emerges if they cannot act to ensure the party stays united.”
The Labour Party declined to comment.
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