Motion calling for whip to be restored to Jeremy Corbyn is defeated in NEC vote

A motion calling for the whip to be restored to Jeremy Corbyn has been defeated following a vote of members of Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC).

Fire Brigade Union representative Ian Murray and local party representative Nadia Jama, two left-wing NEC members, had submitted a motion urging Labour’s chief whip Alan Campbell to restore Corbyn’s status as a Labour MP.

But at an NEC meeting on Tuesday afternoon the move was voted down – with 23 NEC members opposing and 14 voting in favour of restoring the parliamentary whip to the ex-leader, with one abstention.

It is understood the GMB and UNISON trade union reps were amongst those to vote against the motion.

The result emphasised leader Sir Keir Starmer’s clear majority control of the ruling on the body – and was a blow to allies of Corbyn who were hopeful of gaining greater support amongst representatives on the body.

Ahead of the vote the FBU’s Murray had branded the ban on Corbyn standing as a Labour MP as a “deeply divisive act by the leadership of the party” which was “moving us further from the unity required” to take on the Tories.

He also claimed maintaining the ban, imposed in October 2020, was “extremely disrespectful” to voters in Mr Corbyn’s Islington North seat, which he first won in 1983.

Corbyn had been punished by the Labour leader for his response to the publication of the EHRC report into antisemitism in the party, after he issued a statement on the day it was published that questioned the scale of the problem, which he said has been exploited by political opponents.

Initially suspended as a member of the party and as Labour MP, Corbyn was then allowed to return to the party, but without the parliamentary whip being restored.

It has left him sitting as an independent MP in Islington North.

Explaining the move at the time, Starmer said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s actions in response to the EHRC report undermined and set back our work in restoring trust and confidence in the Labour Party’s ability to tackle antisemitism.”

Unless he apologises in full to the Jewish community and to the party, as he has been asked to do, Corbyn faces fighting the next election against the official Labour candidate.

Meanwhile, a separate vote aimed at helping those booted out of the party for support of proscribed organisations such as Labour Against The Witch-hunt, was also defeated 20-14.

Some of those expelled argued they had been punished for offences they could not have known about under four organisations were banned by Labour last July.

After the meeting Labour NEC member Luke Akehurst tweeted:”NEC meeting over after a mercifully short 5 hours 15 minutes. Full report to follow. Highlights: readmission of Corbyn to PLP motion defeated 23 votes to 1

“Momentum motion to stop proscribed organisations applying to evidence from b4 July decision to proscribe them defeated 20 votes to 14

“Membership looking robust at 438,000 and has been going up in last few weeks as people join in reaction to Tory scandals and infighting

“Labour campaigning activity – measured by canvassing contacts being made – higher for this point than in any year since data on this started being collected in 2016.”