Ed Balls loses out in leadership rules shake-up

12 April 2012

Labour is set to curb trade union influence over its leadership election in a bid to create a "level playing field" for all candidates.

The party's ruling National Executive Committee wants to bar union bosses from writing to individual members to tell them how to vote in the contest.

It has also imposed a £156,000 cap on spending by each candidate to limit any advantage for contenders whose campaigns are financed by unions.

MPs were today speculating that the big loser under the reforms could be shadow education secretary Ed Balls, who is expected to win the backing of Unite general secretary Derek Simpson and other union leaders.

The change could work in favour of David Miliband, his brother Ed and Andy Burnham, none of whom is expected to get big union backing.

Party sources told the Standard that the union members of the NEC were furious when the new spending cap change was passed this week. They have also vowed to fight the plan to stop unions sending out leaflets recommending individual candidates.

Union leaderships will still be able to provide "supporting nominations" to candidates, just as individual constituency Labour parties can. However, such nominations are merely symbolic. The three-part electoral college for the contest is made up of party members, trade unions and other affiliates, and MPs and MEPs.

The £156,000 spending cap was worked out at a rate of £1 for every Labour party member. Gordon Brown, who was unopposed for the Labour leadership in 2007, spent £220,000 on his campaign. As the current contest lasts four months the cash will have to be spread even more thinly.

Mr Balls's supporters say it will be individual union members who have the real say in the contest. The affiliates section of the electoral college does not allow unions to use block votes.

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