Jeremy Corbyn supporters fail to block Scottish and Welsh members joining NEC amid ongoing power struggle

It comes as MPs are losing hope that Mr Corbyn will accept a plan to allow them to elect his shadow cabinet

Jeremy Corbyn listens to a speech on the first day of the Labour Party conference, in Liverpool, Britain, 25 September, 2016 (Reuters)

The struggle for control over Labour’s ruling executive continued today after Corbyn-backers failed to kill off a proposal to hand seats on th National Executive Committee (NEC) to Scottish and Welsh politicians.

The leader’s supporters on the NEC have tried to sideline the proposal and failed before, but made a final attempt to block it this morning.

The move, which could help tip the balance to Labour moderates, was rejected after an impassioned speech from Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones.

He told an early-morning meeting of the NEC the changes must be voted on by delegates at Labour's annual conference tomorrow.

A source told The Independent: “It was a powerful intervention. He told them that nationalists are always accusing them in Wales of just being a branch of the Labour party and failure to adopt the move would make things worse.

“He basically said we haven’t let you down, so don’t let us down now.”

Under the proposals the leaders of the Scottish and Welsh Labour parties would each be able to appoint one member to the NEC.

Mr Corbyn fears the move could give his opponents a majority on the executive and wants party members in Scotland and Wales to elect the new representatives instead.

Mr Corbyn did not speak at the meeting and the issue was not put to a vote, but his supporters argued that the issue should be carved out of the broader package of reform due to be voted on by the whole conference.

It comes as Mr Corbyn’s camp has all but rejected moves to allow MPs to elect his shadow cabinet. If he instead now moves to appoint them himself it could in turn strengthen his hand on the NEC, as shadow cabinet members take three positions on the body.