Sir Keir Starmer has reopened a bitter internal dispute within the Labour Party just days before its annual conference, as he pushes to scrap the leadership rules that allowed Jeremy Corbyn to become leader. The current system, introduced by Ed Miliband, gives grassroots members the sole vote in leadership contests. Starmer wants to replace it with an electoral college where members, MPs, and trade unions each hold a third of the vote.
The proposed changes have met with strong resistance from unions, which hold half the votes at conference. Sharon Graham, the new leader of Unite, said Starmer had not consulted her in advance and should “think again”. She called the plan “unfair, undemocratic and a backwards step”. Left-wing groups like Momentum condemned the move, with vice chair Callum Bell warning it would “mark the start of a civil war”.
However, some moderate MPs backed the changes. Neil Coyle urged left-wingers to support the plan to improve the party’s electoral prospects, saying Labour needed “someone who can actually win for us” after past defeats. Ed Miliband, who introduced the current system, said it was “a leader’s prerogative” to propose changes and backed Starmer’s intention to reconnect with voters.
In a meeting with affiliated unions on Wednesday, Starmer argued his case but was told there were “no takers”. A joint statement described the talks as “positive” and said discussions would continue. Starmer said the proposal was “never a take it or leave it conversation”. To succeed, he must win over major unions including the GMB, Usdaw and Unison. If too many remain opposed, the plan may not even be put to conference vote.
