Labour’s national executive committee, the party’s ruling body, is appealing against a high court decision allowing new party members to vote in the forthcoming leadership election
11.21am BST
Labour barrister tells the court: One of the key questions in this case, is what does it mean to define the eligibility criteria?
The question is what it means when it says NEC has right to “define” eligibility criteria, barrister says, 1/2
2/2 and his argument is that includes right to determine time limits.
11.17am BST
“The parties to the contract are … recognising that the NEC has an interpretive role,” says Labour’s barrister. He goes on to argue that where the NEC says it has a particular power, it does mean that the court should provide a degree of deference to the NEC.
11.12am BST
This tweet from Jessica pretty much encapsulates the case that the Labour NEC is seeking to make in their appeal.
McNicol barrister argues NEC is afforded by the rule book sufficiently broad powers that it can override the rules framework
11.09am BST
The barrister for Ian McNicol is arguing that “the power to impose the condition … is clear from the express words of the rule book.”
He says he has finished his preliminary submissions. Now, he is directing the court to page 405 of the rule book…
11.06am BST
My colleague Jessica Elgot is at the court of appeal watching the case and live tweeting the proceedings. It’s starting a bit slowly, from the sound of things.
Judge says: “I think we can say numbering in this rule book is *special*… The love of Roman numerals….” Lots of laughter in court…
10.33am BST
Good morning on another day set to be full of drama in the Labour party.
Today Labour’s national executive committee, the party’s ruling body, is challenging a high court decision allowing new party members to vote in the forthcoming leadership election. It comes after six NEC members, including deputy leader Tom Watson, decided to appeal against a ruling that the party had wrongly disenfranchised 130,000 members, most of whom are thought to back incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn.
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Sig Nordal 