Jeremy Corbyn allies win places on Labour's ruling body

credit - Labour screengrab

Candidates backed by the pro-Jeremy Corbyn group Momentum have won a decisive victory in the elections to Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee. 

Labour members voted for six members to represent the constituency Labour parties (CLPs) on the 33-strong NEC.

They were Ann Black, Christine Shawcroft, Claudia Webbe, Darren Williams, Rhea Wolfson, and Peter Willsman – all the candidates Momentum was urging its supporters to back.

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Momentum was set up as the successor group to Corbyn's successful leadership campaign last year. 

More centrist candidates including current NEC members Ellie Reeves and Johanna Baxter, Labour First founder Luke Akehurst and comedian Eddie Izzard missed out.

The results act as further evidence that supporters of Corbyn are taking up powerful spots within the party machinery.

Wolfson’s victory will be controversial since she was quoted as saying winning the 2020 general election “should not be the priority” for the party, while she also switched her membership to a different CLP after she was initially blocked from standing because her local party would not support her. 

Meanwhile Islington councillor Alice Perry and Nick Forbes, the head of Newcastle City Council, were elected by other Labour councillors to represent local government on the NEC. 

The strong showing for left-wing candidates will also increase expectations of a victory for Corbyn against Owen Smith in the leadership election, the winner of which will be announced next month.