13:36

Sources are suggesting that moves are underway to oust Ann Black as chair of the Labour party’s disputes panel, and to replace her with a senior figure in Momentum, Christine Shawcroft.

The move, likely to take place at a meeting this afternoon, is infuriating centrists in the party who think it is wrong to oust an experienced figure from the role. Some are claiming the motivation is around limiting the number of Labour members who are removed from the party for perceived antisemitism online.

But others, on the left of the party, say Jeremy Corbyn’s office have long been frustrated by Black’s decision to vote against the leader in NEC meetings - including backing a move to charge people £25 to be able to vote in the second leadership election as registered supporters.

Sources have suggested that the unions are likely to back the push after being asked to do so by the leader’s office.

They think Jeremy Corbyn’s office is taking advantage of a shift in balance on the party’s governing body, NEC, following the election of new leftwing members earlier this week.

Opponents of the move claim that will impact on any crackdown on antisemitism as the committee deals with membership appeals and readmissions to the party.

Shawcroft is a leftwing member of the NEC and also a leading figure in Momentum. She has faced controversy in the past when she was suspended for publicly backing the controversial former mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman.