Ross Hawkins is reporting that Labour HQ staff have written to the NEC demanding places for staff on the party’s ruling committee:

“It is disappointing that while the Tory prime minister has promised worker representation on company boards that Labour Party workers are currently unrepresented on their own executive.”

The Cobynistas, with some justification, believe that Labour HQ is the last redoubt of New Labour holdouts. They would like to clear out some of the old guard to make way for new comrades. In truth many of the old guard are happy to go so long as they get generous redundancy pay-outs. They can see the writing on the wall…

Ironically, even though Corbyn is usually dogmatically opposed to compulsory redundancies, this week depressed staff demanded in an email to Corbyn that he send“a message of solidarity and support for unionised Labour Party workers in the face of any attempts to ‘purge’ or ‘clear-out’ hard-working staff”. All Corbyn would commit to in writing is that “at this stage” no staff changes are planned. Classic non-denial.