Labour's NEC is proposing that future leadership candidates need 1/5 of all existing MPs... here's why that should be stopped: 1/ it's designed to stifle the left only... the membership is way to the left of the PLP...
2/ It entrenches machine politics. The PLP is already substantially bereft of people who could feasibly govern, or make a convincing speech - but now all you have to do is network at Westminster...
3/ ... it stifles original voices and ideas: most truly competitive fields - business, the arts, sport - are led by talented misfits with the flair and passion to excel... the list of great potential Labour PMs we never had will grow ...
4/ ... it will ensure conference opens with an internal row and hopefully a defeat for Starmer abs the NEC majority - Sunday headlines will be: Labour divided - and they'll be spot on...
5/ ... what does it say to the 18-24 generation of politically engaged people? If you dream of running the country and radical change, don't bother trying to do so unless you can persuade a bunch of white, middle aged centrists to put you into their machine process...
6/ ... but it looks like we beat the electoral college. I won't mourn the end of registered supporters voting: given how hard it is to be a member, it's the members who should get to vote.
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