Plans for an American-style primary contest to choose Labour’s next candidate for London mayor were broadly welcomed today.
However, campaigners said opening up the vote to non-members could give too much power to wealthy candidates and those with media backing.
In one of Ed Miliband’s boldest reforms, the next mayoral selection battle — due in 2015 — will be a “closed primary” in which party members and a new class of registered supporters will take part. The old system, which picked Ken Livingstone to stand against Boris Johnson last year, gave the trade unions 50 per cent of the vote.
Sadiq Khan, the party’s London campaign chief and shadow justice secretary, urged Londoners to “shape the city’s destiny” by signing up online as a registered supporter. It stops short of the “open primary” proposed last year by shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy in which any Londoner could have voted. Officials admit there is nothing to prevent Tories posing as Labour supporters to take part. A £1 charge may be levied to help cover costs.
Mr Livingstone welcomed the change. He said: “My first interest in politics was US elections, where the primary system works very well.” But he said there was a danger that “corrupt” press barons could influence people taking part.
James Mills, a campaigner for more diversity in Labour, said wealthy professionals would benefit. “Financial support for low-income candidates is essential,” he added.
