Rhea Wolfson elected to Labour’s executive committee
The Jewish Labour activist came in fifth place with 85,687 votes, making her one of the six new committee members
A slate of left-leaning candidates including Rhea Wolfson has been elected on to Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Six spaces on the NEC for representatives from constituency Labour parties have been filled, and all six winners are deemed to be on the left in what many will see as a boost for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Those elected are Ann Black (100,999 votes), Christine Shawcroft (97,510 votes), Claudia Webbe (92,377 votes), Darren Williams (87,003 votes), Rhea Wolfson (85,687 votes) and Peter Willsman ( 81,863 votes).
The NEC governs the Labour Party but its relationship with the leadership has been under strain in recent months.
It voted by a majority of 18 to 14 earlier this year for Corbyn to have an automatic place on the leadership ballot without needing to obtain the backing of 20% of Labour MPs and MEPs.
Following her election, the Jewish activist thanked those who voted for her. She tweeted “Unbelievably delighted and grateful to have been elected on to Labour’s NEC! Thank you to all who voted, campaigned & supported me”
Thank you so much! #Rhea4NEC #LabourLeadership #LabourNEC https://t.co/4ap21CnamQ pic.twitter.com/Rr88FME6RU
— Rhea Wolfson (@rheawolfson) August 8, 2016
Unbelievably delighted and grateful to have been elected on to Labour's NEC! Thank you to all who voted, campaigned & supported me. ????✊????
— Rhea Wolfson (@rheawolfson) August 8, 2016
Meanwhile, the NEC’s Procedures Committee has said it will appeal against a High Court ruling that said new members should have the right to vote in Labour’s leadership contest between Mr Corbyn and Owen Smith.
Allies of Mr Corbyn attacked the decision to appeal, with shadow chancellor John McDonnell condemning a “small clique of people behind closed doors, many of whom have openly expressed their opposition to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership”.
Responding to the election of six new members to the NEC, a spokesman for the Jeremy for Labour campaign said: “Our campaign would like to congratulate those new members to the Labour Party’s NEC, and thank those former members who have served our party, and also thank those members who stood unsuccessfully.
“This result clearly shows that there is a desire for real and genuine change in our party under the continued leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, but we are not going to take anything for granted and we will be campaigning for every vote in the leadership contest.”
The NEC consists of the Labour leader, deputy leader, frontbenchers, trade union representatives, constituency party representatives, councillors and members of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
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