London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025

Starmer risks ‘civil war’ over Labour leadership election rules change

Starmer risks ‘civil war’ over Labour leadership election rules change

Move to put proposals to vote at party conference comes under fire from Momentum and some unions
Keir Starmer has been accused of risking “civil war” in the Labour party as he seeks to rewrite the rules that led to Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader.

Starmer set out plans to switch to an electoral college system to decide future party leaders. He will argue the move will give greater sway to millions of trade union members – but the party’s left said it would also hand more power to MPs at the expense of ordinary members.

The move would be a return to Labour’s old system, under which MPs, party members and trade unions each had a third of the votes for a new leader. It was abolished by Ed Miliband in 2014, instead giving each member of the party and its affiliates one vote on any candidate on the ballot paper. Candidates must acquire the support of 10% of MPs, plus some support from constituency parties and trade unions to get on the ballot.

The change is set to be put to a vote at Labour’s conference in Brighton this weekend. The Guardian understands that Starmer has been buoyed by internal numbers that suggest he can command a majority of Labour members attending conference.

However, any vote is likely to be extremely tight. “This vote is not a given,” a senior Labour aide said. “It is a big risk for Keir and the chances of a big loss at conference is possible. But the calculation is it will look worse if he does nothing and looks like he is not in command.”

His decision to push through controversial party reforms risks the conference being dominated by factional rows. Callum Bell, the Momentum vice-chair, said: “Any attempt to take these rule changes to conference would mark the start of a civil war in the party. Grassroots members will have no choice but to mobilise all our strength to fight back against this bureaucratic attack. Conference will get very messy, very fast – and there is no saying who will come out on top.”

Allies of the Labour leader have urged him to make a definitive break with the Corbyn era and demonstrate his dominance in the party – though sources close to Starmer said he was not seeking conflict and instead wanted to offer unions a greater stake in the party.

Starmer will meet union leaders for a summit on Wednesday. He could still be forced into a U-turn if he does not win support from three key unions: Unison, Usdaw and the GMB. Unite and the CWU have already said they are opposed. Senior sources said Starmer would be forced to drop the proposals if two of the remaining unions opposed them.

A Labour source said Starmer would aim to convince the unions they would have more power under a return to the old system, pointing to the election of Miliband in 2010 when members and MPs had backed his brother, David, but the union vote had sealed the younger Miliband’s election.

A Labour source said trade union members could currently only vote in leadership elections if they had signed up as affiliate Labour supporters. The proposal would extend the vote to all trade union members who paid the political levy on their union fees – potentially expanding the leadership electorate to more than 2 million people.

Doubts have also been raised internally as to whether Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, would agree to the proposal but sources close to Rayner suggested that with union backing she would see it as a done deal.

Starmer outlined the proposals to his shadow cabinet on Tuesday, including a change to Labour’s policymaking process, which could deny members a chance to vote on the plans at party conference and avoid “an endless series of motions at party conference”.

He said: “Our rules as they are right now focus us inwards to spend too much time talking to and about ourselves and they weaken the link with our unions. I know that this is difficult – change always is – but I think these changes are vital for our party’s future.”

Unite’s new general secretary, Sharon Graham, said the plan was “deeply disappointing” and urged MPs to oppose it. “Unite believes in democracy and this move to reduce the entire membership to one-third of the vote while inflating the votes of MPs to one-third is unfair, undemocratic and a backwards step for our party.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
×