Momentum founder stresses his wish for Labour to end its ‘command and control’ culture

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The Momentum founder, Jon Lansman, has abandoned his attempt to become Labour’s general secretary but reiterated his opposition to a coronation for Jeremy Corbyn’s favoured candidate, saying the party’s “command and control” culture must end.

Lansman’s decision to stand against Unite’s Jennie Formby exposed tensions between Corbyn and his close allies, and Momentum’s vision for Labour as a social movement led by members, rather than unions having significant sway.

He was understood to have faced intense pressure from some of Corbyn’s allies to not stand to replace the outgoing Iain McNicol over concerns that this could split the left-leaning vote on the ruling national executive committee, which will make the decision.

In a tweeted statement, Lansman said he was withdrawing from the contest, but only after “a number of party members” had got in touch to say they were applying. Lansman said he hoped more would do so – especially women.

He said he had decided to stand to “open up the contest, instigate a debate about how the Labour party can develop” and encourage more members to apply.

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Lansman said that now more candidates were coming forward, he had decided “to step back from the race”, and would support whoever was chosen to replace McNicol, who announced last month that he was stepping down.

But he stressed his desire for Labour’s ways to change, saying: “We must draw a clear line between our renewed and reinvigorated mass-membership party and previous eras of command and control – where the views of members and affiliates alike were too often ignored, party conference overruled and the NEC disrespected.”

The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, also supports Formby, Unite’s officer on the national executive committee, to replace McNicol in an accelerated process that will see the successor chosen by 20 March.

Some in Labour have balked at what they see as a process intended to stage-manage a succession for Formby, whose boss at Unite, Len McCluskey, is one of Corbyn’s strongest supporters.

Lansman, who was elected to the Labour ruling committee in January, is also a longtime Corbyn ally, and set up Momentum as a parallel political vehicle to back Corbyn’s leadership.

While Momentum has been credited with helping Labour secure a better-than-expected result in last year’s general election, the influx of younger members to the party through the group has caused some tensions.

One of these has been on Europe, where Labour members have been shown to be much more supportive of continued UK membership of the single market and customs union after Brexit.

There has been a parallel pressure for Labour to become more responsive to its members, against what some see as a centralist leadership culture based around Corbyn, his inner circle and Unite.

However, many in the party had also said they believed McNicol’s replacement should be a woman, given that men hold most key positions, including those of leader, deputy leader, shadow chancellor, leaders of its Welsh and Scottish parties and mayors of major cities.