Labour backs Sir Keir Starmer over party rules reforms

Labour's annual conference has voted in favour of Sir Keir Starmer's plans to overhaul the party's rules.

The changes give MPs more of a say in choosing its future leaders and make it harder for members to deselect MPs.

Sir Keir says the reforms are needed to make Labour more outward-looking and successful, having lost four general elections in a row.

But many on the left oppose his ideas, arguing they are undemocratic and will do nothing to help beat the Tories.

Sir Keir's changes mean that, in future, leadership candidates will need the support of 20% of Labour MPs - rather than the current 10% - to get on to a party-wide ballot.

They also make it harder for local parties to deselect sitting MPs, while the rule allowing "registered supporters", who pay a one-off fee to vote in leadership elections, is scrapped.