The embattled Labour party leader has won a significant victory at the meeting of the National executive of the Labour party of Great Britain. The executive committee voted 18 to 14 that Corbyn had an automatic place on the ballot and he did not require the nominating support of 50 MPs as is the case of his opponents who are trying to oust him from the leadership. 172 parliamentary Labour MPs voted no confidence in his leadership but since he won an overwhelming majority of party member votes less than a year ago he is likely, though not certain, to win the the bulk of their support in this new contest.

If so, the Labour party rebels will have been vanquished and the grip of Corbyn and his allies in the party strengthened. There is also the danger that the defeated rebels will bolt the party and seek to form a new centrist coalition opposed to both the left and the tory right. But first we have to see how successful Corbyn will be in this leadership race. The anti-Corbynites may have strengthened their position somewhat by tightening the rules on members who will have voting rights and demanding that new members who sign up in the two days between July 18 and July 20 or have previously signed up at 3 £ will have to pay 25£ in the those two days to acquire voting rights.There may also be a loophole which permits people to sign up with a union like Unite or another registered group for a smaller monthly fee and gain the right to vote as a registered supporter via this route. In such case the deadline would be postponed until August.

Some anti Corbynite journalists are predicting the demise of Labour and a restructuring of the party system with a new centrist coalition party emerging as a competitor to Labour. This may happen but its premature to conclude this. I would not rule Corbyn out at this stage. He’ s proved himself and his team are competent political competitors in a very tough environment.