Labour backbencher Simon Danczuk says leadership contest 'may need to be re-run'

A prominent Labour backbencher has said that the party's leadership contest may need to be re-run following claims that non-Labour supporters are joining the party to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Simon Danczuk is the latest MP to criticise the leadership contest and called for the interim Labour leader, Harriet Harman, to halt the vote and call an emergency meeting to assess the level of "infiltration".

He told LBC radio that Jeremy Corbyn was not the right person to become the next Labour leader:

The Rochdale MP wants the leadership contest halted and an emergency meeting to be called. Credit: PA

A YouGov poll on Tuesday gave Mr Corbyn a promising lead ahead of the other candidates, with bookmakers hailing him the favourite to become the next Labour leader.

Labour supporters have until midday to register as members for the party and vote for a new Labour leader.

Many front bench positions would be left unfilled if Corbyn wins the leadership, shadow cabinet members have reportedly warned, as many MPs would refuse to back his policies.

Alastair Campbell, Labour's former communications director, said yesterday that Labour risks "driving itself over a cliff" as he urged members to vote for "anyone but Corbyn".

Labour leadership contest: What you need to know

From left to right: Jeremy Corbyn, Liz Kendall, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper. Credit: PA

  • Who is Jeremy Corbyn up against? Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall.

  • Who can vote in the leadership contest? All members, registered supporters and affiliated supporters

  • What are the key dates? Anyone wanting to vote must join the party by midday on 12 August. Ballot papers will be sent out on 14 August and must be returned by 10 September. The winner will be announced on 12 September.

  • How does the voting system work? It's based on an alternative voting (AV) system. Voters pick a candidate as their first choice, but they also mark their second preference in case their first doesn't win. If no candidate gets half of all votes cast, the candidate in fourth place is eliminated. The votes are then redistributed according to second preferences. This continues until one candidate has half the vote and wins.