Keir Starmer has abandoned a key Labour rule change after a furious backlash from trade unions - but will press ahead with a new set of reforms likely to anger Left-wing members.
The Labour leader had wanted to ditch the one-member-one-vote system for leadership elections and shift the party back to the electoral college, which saw the vote for new leaders split between unions, grassroots members and MPs.
But Left-wing members branded it undemocratic and he was forced to U-turn after standoff with unions late on Friday.
Following talks late into the evening, however, Labour’s leader agreed a new package of reforms which were backed by the party’s ruling National Executive Committee on Saturday lunchtime.
The ruling body voted 22 to 12 in favour, a source said. The new changes will now be put to a showdown vote on the Labour Party conference floor on Sunday afternoon.
Perhaps the most controversial will be a higher nomination bar to become a leadership candidate.
Candidates will now need the backing of 20% of MPs, or 40 on current numbers. Currently the threshold is 10% of MPs, plus 5% of CLPs and 5% of affiliates. Originally Sir Keir’s team proposed 25%.
Jeremy Corbyn only just managed to reach a previous 15% MP threshold with moments to spare in 2015.
The changes will also ditch the registered supporters scheme, which allowed people who paid a small fee and signed a declaration of support to vote in leadership elections.
The NEC also backed proposals to raise the bar for which MPs can face a deselection threat.
Currently, if either a third of members or a third of affiliates want to block their MPs' candidacy at the next general election, a race can be triggered.
The leader’s team wants to raise the bar for a selection challenge to half of both members and trade unions/affiliates.
Finally the NEC backed a move to cut the number of grassroots conference motions debated at the party's annual gathering each year.
Only six plus six motions will be able to be put forward, rather than 10 plus 10, under the proposed changes.
Keir Starmer said in a statement: “I’m very pleased these party reforms have got the backing of our NEC.
"These proposals put us in a better position to win the next general election and I hope constituency and trade union delegates will support them when they come to conference floor”
The new set of reforms are still likely to be highly controversial with the Left - and will put be put to conference delegates who are meeting in Brighton from today until Wednesday.
It has been a difficult start to the Leader's first in-person conference since he was elected Corbyn's successor.
Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, who is said to have been sceptical about returning the party to the electoral college system, is due to speak at 4pm.
This afternoon delegates will vote on whether to confirm Starmer's appointment of David Evans as general secretary, which may be a flashpoint with the Left following a programme of cuts.
