LABOUR grassroots candidates won four seats on the party’s national executive committee (NEC) today.

Gemma Bolton, Jess Barnard, Naomi Idrissi Wimborne and Yasmin Dar were all elected to serve on the party’s ruling body while left candidate Mish Rahman lost his seat.

The right-wing Labour to Win group won four seats with “soft left” candidate Ann Black winning the other seat.

The Labour to Win group is thought to have benefited from tens of thousands of members leaving the party since Sir Keir Starmer became leader.

Labour membership is reported to have slumped by around 100,000 in 2021.

But results appear to leave the balance of power on the NEC largely unchanged, with the right wing in the majority with the help of votes from shadow cabinet members and some trade unions. 

Gemma Bolton said: “A huge thank you to Labour members for re-electing me to the NEC and congratulations to all candidates elected! I’ll continue to campaign for a genuinely transformative Labour government and internally democratic party.”

Naomi Idrissi Wimborne said: “The serious work of representing members starts now!”

Yasmin Dar said she was “honoured once again to be elected on to the NEC. Together we will continue to fight for a socialist, Labour government.”

Outgoing Young Labour chair Jess Barnard said: “Members are the beating heart of our party and we demand policies to transform people’s lives. Let’s fight for it.”

As Ms Barnard left Young Labour the elections to its committee were a stinging rebuke to Sir Keir.

The committee, now chaired by Labour councillor Nabeela Mowlana, returned 12 out of 16 Momentum-backed candidates.

Sir Keir had effectively closed down the youth wing six months ago because of criticisms of his policy direction. A Momentum spokesperson said the results confirm that “Labour’s future is socialist. While retaining a strong presence on Labour’s NEC, the left has won a resounding victory in Young Labour’s elections, laying the groundwork for future victories.”

Newly elected Young Labour chair Nabeela Mowlana said:  “From sky-high debts to rising rents, insecure work to the climate crisis, young people are on the sharp edge of today’s broken economy. We urgently need to offer a transformative programme for change that rises to meet the challenges young people face.

“Under my leadership, Young Labour will continue to be a loud voice and campaigning force in Labour and beyond – fighting for a socialist alternative to this failed Tory government. The future will be socialist.”