Court To Rule On Anti-Corbyn Leadership Case

Jeremy Corbyn will find out later if he is eligible to run in the Labour leadership contest in a High Court ruling that could threaten further party turmoil.

The beleaguered Labour leader will learn if he will be dropped from the party leadership contest unless he can find the backing of 51 Labour MPs or MEPs.

The High Court ruling could throw the party's leadership battle into chaos - and even block Mr Corbyn leader from standing at all.

The case, which has been brought by party donor Michael Foster, focuses on the rules governing a leadership challenge.

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Labour's ruling body, the national executive committee, decided last month that while the challenger to Mr Corbyn's leadership needed the backing of 51 MPs or MEPS, Mr Corbyn did not.

But Mr Foster claims the rules were "misapplied" and that Mr Corbyn should also have to find the same number of supporting MPs or MEPs to run.

If the court rules in Mr Foster's favour then Mr Corbyn will have to find that backing - and he could struggle.

While he 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.

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It would also mean the Labour contest would need to be delayed to give Mr Corbyn time to gather backers - the results were due to be announced on 24 September.

And if he fails to do so then it could mean the "coronation" of Labour rival Owen Smith, who could go uncontested.

Lawyers for Mr Corbyn argued on Tuesday that Mr Foster's case amounted to a block on the beleaguered leader ever being able to contest a leadership battle despite his huge support with Labour members and supporters.

He said: "If Mr Foster is right then there will be no election and the present challenger (Mr Smith) will be entitled to be elected as leader unopposed."

The court will make its ruling this afternoon and outline the grounds for appeal, an action Mr Corbyn is expected to make if it goes against him.

Mr Smith told the BBC: "I think Jeremy should be on the ballot. I have always though that and I thought it was the right decision by the NEC to put him on the ballot. I think the mood in the party will be really angry if a judge interfered and made sure that Jeremy wasn't on the ballot."