Tom Watson: Corbyn allies try to oust deputy leader on eve of Labour conference

The deputy position has existed since 1922 and has been held by prominent Labour figures, including Aneurin Bevan, Michael Foot and Harriet Harman

Opponents of Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson have made a dramatic move to unseat him on the eve of the party’s annual conference in Brighton.

Mr Watson survived a motion to the ruling National Executive Committee to abolish his position as deputy leader, but could be ousted by another vote on Saturday.

In events that threaten to overshadow a conference designed to deliver a unity message ahead of an expected general election, the motion to abolish Mr Watson’s position was tabled by the head of the Corbyn-backing Momentum movement, Jon Lansman.

Allies of Watson said that Mr Lansman targeted the deputy leader for his position on Brexit. Mr Watson had called for the party to pursue a second referendum before a general election.

It is understood that Mr Lansman criticised Mr Watson for undermining the party’s Brexit spokesperson Sir Keir Starmer by calling for this approach on the day of Mr Starmer’s keynote speech to the Trades Union Congress.

One source close to the deputy leader said: “This could not have happened without Jeremy Corbyn’s backing.

“Jeremy has the votes he needs on the NEC, so if he wants it to happen tomorrow, it will happen and then it will go forward to a vote in conference.”

Mr Watson was directly elected by the Labour membership in 2015, gaining 51 per cent of the vote. His position means he cannot be sacked by Corbyn, and he has been a thorn in the side of the leadership over recent years, particularly for his outspoken opposition to Brexit.

It is understood that the chair of the NEC ruled Mr Lansman’s motion out of order. Despite a 17-10 vote in their favour, supporters of the Momentum boss were unable to reach the two-thirds majority needed to overrule the chair.

However, Saturday’s meeting of the NEC at 10am in Brighton will require only a simple majority to pass the Lansman motion.

Mr Watson was unable to attend Friday’s meeting for personal reasons and had no idea that a motion to abolish his position was in the offing.

The position of deputy leader has existed since 1922 and has been held by prominent Labour figures including Clement Attlee, Aneurin Bevan, Roy Jenkins, Michael Foot, Denis Healey, John Prescott and Harriet Harman.

A Momentum source said: ”No one person is more important than beating Boris Johnson, ending austerity and tackling the climate emergency. We just can’t afford to go into an election with a deputy leader set on wrecking Labour’s chances.

“Labour members overwhelmingly want a deputy leadership election, but our outdated rulebook won’t let it happen. You need 20 per cent of Labour MPs to trigger an election, and they just won’t let the members have a fair and open election.”

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "The move to abolish the deputy leader post without warning or debate is undemocratic, wrong and should not happen.

"Those who came up with the idea for the eve of Labour conference have taken leave of their senses.”