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Labour says Corbyn has automatic right to defend leadership

  • Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
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    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London

    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
    Reuters
  • Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
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    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London

    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
    Reuters
  • Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
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    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London

    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
    Reuters
  • Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
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    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London

    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
    Reuters
  • The leader of Britain's opposition Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, arrives for a meeting of the party's NEC, in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall
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    The leader of Britain's opposition Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, arrives for a meeting of the party's NEC, in central London

    The leader of Britain's opposition Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, arrives for a meeting of the party's NEC, in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall
    Reuters
  • Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
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    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London

    Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
    Reuters
Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) stops to have his picture taken with supporters after a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
The leader of Britain's opposition Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, arrives for a meeting of the party's NEC, in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall
Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves a meeting of the National Executive Committee in central London, Britain July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Paul Hackett
Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn's name should automatically be on the ballot paper in the Labour Party's leadership contest, the party's national executive committee (NEC) ruled on Tuesday. The decision boosts Corbyn's chances of resisting an attempt to oust him, but could be subject to a legal challenge from opponents who say he should have to gather support from 51 lawmakers - something he may struggle to do. "The NEC has agreed that as the incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn will go forward onto the ballot without requiring nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) and the European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP)," a party spokesman said in a statement. "All other leadership candidates will require nominations from 20 percent of the PLP and EPLP." (Reporting by William James and Paul Sandle; Editing by Gareth Jones)