Labour leadership hopefuls to meet Harman over 'vote sabotage' claims

Voters have a choice of four candidates in the party's leadership contest Credit: PA

The four Labour leadership candidates will meet with acting leader Harriet Harman today after accusations the vote was infiltrated by supporters of other parties seeking to sabotage the process.

The contest has been plagued with claims that Conservatives and supporters of other parties had been able to register as Labour supporters for a £3 fee, giving them a vote in the poll.

There have also been complaints from legitimate voters - many of whom say they plan to vote for frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn - that they have been unfairly barred from casting their ballot.

The rivals will meet with the interim leader for talks to address the vetting of members amid warnings that inadequate checks could leave the outcome open to legal challenge.

Speaking to BBC2's Newsnight, former home secretary Charles Clarke branded the contest a "disaster" which would probably be subject to multiple legal challenges.

He said he thought Harman had "not done it very well", and branded the changes to membership rules which have allowed them to apparently be exploited by opponents a "mistake" by Ed Miliband.