Labour MP Jacques Monasch has accused the party of stopping him from contesting the party leadership because he disagrees with the rules agreed for the vote.

Monasch, an MP since 2010, says non-members should be able to vote for the party leader as well and that the winner of the vote should be able to influence the party’s election manifesto.

The MP said on Facebook he is extremely disappointed in the decision.

A spokesman for the PvdA management board said Monasch had decided to pull out of the contest himself. On Monday afternoon Monasch announced he is leaving the Labour party altogether because he can no longer support its aims.

That decision means the government has lost its majority in the lower house of parliament.

His withdrawal, and the rejection of two other candidates, means current leader Diederik Samsom and social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher are the only two candidates contesting the leadership election.