Twitter overjoyed as Labour NEC rules Jeremy Corbyn is on the ballot automatically

Labour leader will be on ballot without having to get nominations from MPs

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party (PA)

Twitter has erupted following the news that Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn will automatically be on the ballot paper during the leadership contest.

The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) met to decide whether Mr Corbyn should automatically be included on the ballot as his supporters have said or should gather 51 nominations from his MPs - the position supported by the rebels.

Shortly before 8pm on Tuesday, the NEC ruled by 18 votes to 14 that Mr Corbyn was automatically entitled to a place on the Labour leadership ballot as the incumbent leader.

Immediately following the announcement, Mr Corbyn's supporters took to Twitter to celebrate the result saying the decision of the NEC was final and they would go on to win the renewed leadership contest.

Tremendous that Corbyn will be on the ballot, bye bye challengers #keepcorbyn

— Steve Robinson (@rhodie1109) 12 July 2016

But not everyone was as thrilled. Many other Labour members and supporters pronouncing the death of the party:

It was not all good news for Corbynistas as the NEC also ruled memebers who had joined in the last six months were ineligible to take part in the vote.

Supporters have already launched a petition which has gathered more than 2,000 signatures demanding to be included in the vote - suggesting that their exclusion was a deliberate attempt to stop Mr Corbyn winning again.

Speaking to journalists following the decision Mr Corbyn said he was "delighted" with the result and urged his MPs to come together to help him "offer an alternative to this Tory government".

He said he was "reaching out to everyone in our party so all the talents can be used" and "anyone who has any disagreements" should come and speak to him.