The Labour party was left in deadlock on Tuesday night after the party’s national executive committee failed to reach a consensus about how to persuade MPs to return to Jeremy Corbyn’s frontbench. In a meeting that lasted more than eight hours, the Labour leader refused to sign up to plans put forward by his deputy under which Labour politicians would be allowed to vote for the shadow cabinet. The Guardian understands that the mediated discussions are likely to involve the leader and his office, the party’s chief whip, Rosie Winterton, the parliamentary Labour party’s chairman, John Cryer, and Watson. Instead Corbyn opposes the idea, the sources said, because he believes members ought to vote to appoint the NEC. Meanwhile, Owen Smith – Corbyn’s challenger and a former shadow welfare secretary – wrote an open letter to Labour party members and supporters about what he called a “long and bruising contest” that he admitted many had not wanted.

Source: The Guardian September 20, 2016 20:02 UTC