Labour member calls party's High Court appeal win 'hugely disappointing'

'This case was always about fairness and inclusion, which was won in the High Court on Monday, with a clear and firm judgment'

Jeremy Corbyn was delivered a blow by the Appeal Court ruling (PA)

One of the five Labour activists who won a legal challenge allowing 130,000 new party members to vote in the upcoming leadership election has called the Court of Appeal’s ruling against the decision “hugely disappointing”.

The party executive ruled last month that only members of at least six months' standing could vote in the contest. Five Labour members challenged the decision, and on Monday a judge agreed the party was wrong to disenfranchise people who had joined believing they would be able to vote.

But the party lodged an appeal, and on Friday three judges said the lower court judge had "erred in law."

The Rev Edward Leir, one of the five Labour activists, told The Independent in a statement on Friday: “This case was always about fairness and inclusion, which was won in the High Court on Monday, with a clear and firm judgment.

“It is a hugely disappointing result for me and probably for the 130,000 Labour Party members similarly excluded.

“I am very grateful to everyone, including the 2,000 donors, who gave supported our fight over this matter so far.”

Announcing the ruling on Friday, Judge Jack Beatson said Labour's National Executive Committee "has the power to set the criteria for members to be eligible to vote in the leadership election in the way that they did".

The ruling deepens the split in the party and disenfranchises almost 130,000 new Labour members — many of them thought to suppor Mr Corbyn, who was elected leader a year ago.

He remains popular among party members. But most Labour MPs accuse him of failing to present a compelling alternative to the Conservative government and of showing half-hearted support for European Union membership during Britain's recent referendum campaign.

The divide between pro- and anti-Corbyn factions has grown bitter, with allegations of bullying on social media and a heated atmosphere at local party meetings.

Additional reporting by Press Association