JEREMY CORBYN could only be forced off the ballot paper in a future leadership election if party rules were misinterpreted, Labour democracy campaigners say, writes Conrad Landin.

Tuesday’s Times cited “party sources” who argued that rules on a challenge to an incumbent — which say a nominee would have to receive support from 20 per cent of MPs — would spark a fresh election with each would-be leader needing nominations from 15 per cent of MPs.

But a Tuesday night Campaign for Labour Party Democracy rally heard that the rule was introduced on the assumption that any incumbent would automatically be included in the ballot.

CLPD assistant secretary Barry Gray stressed the importance of understanding party rules “because the right understand them, but they don’t care about democracy.”

Shadow energy minister Clive Lewis warned the rally that Labour rightwingers could attempt to “strangle” the popular movement that propelled Mr Corbyn to victory “with boredom.”