Corbyn Wins High Court Leadership Fight

Jeremy Corbyn is entitled to be on the Labour leadership ballot without the support of MPs, the High Court has ruled.

In an unprecedented case, the judge ruled Mr Corbyn did not need to find the support of 51 of his MPs or MEPs to take part in a leadership battle - unlike those who sought to challenge him.

The beleaguered leader welcomed the decision saying the case, brought by Labour donor Michael Foster, was a "waste of time and resources".

The case focused on the party rules governing a leadership challenge and the decision may by the party's ruling body, the national executive committee, earlier this month if that Mr Corbyn did not have to find the backing of MPs - unlike his challengers.

Mr Foster had claimed the rules were "misapplied" and that Mr Corbyn should not be on the leadership ballot.

The move was seen as an attempt to oust Mr Corbyn by effectively blocking him from running in the contest, leaving his challenger, Owen Smith, unopposed.

While Mr enjoys massive support among Labour members, the same is not true among MPs.

Earlier this month he lost a Parliamentary Labour Party vote of no confidence by 172 votes to 40 and he would have struggled to find the 51 members to back him.

Mr Corbyn said: "I welcome the decision by the High Court to respect the democracy of the Labour Party.

"This has been a waste of time and resources when our party should be focused on holding the Government to account.

"There should have been no question of the right of half a million Labour Party members to choose their own leader being overturned. If anything, the aim should be to expand the number of voters in this election."

Iain McNicol, General Secretary of the Labour Party, said: "We are delighted that the Court has upheld the authority and decision of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. 

"We will continue with the leadership election as agreed by the NEC."