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Labour leadership election: Voting to close at midday Labour leadership: Voting set to close amid fresh turmoil
(about 9 hours later)
Voting in the Labour leadership contest closes at midday on Thursday, with the winner announced on Saturday. The three-month battle to become Labour's next leader is drawing to a close, amid fresh warnings the party could "collapse" if left winger Jeremy Corbyn wins.
It comes amid reports many people have not yet received their ballot papers. Voting in the contest - pitting Mr Corbyn against Andy Burnham, Liz Kendall and Yvette Cooper - closes at midday, with the results on Saturday.
As the campaign enters its final hours, hopefuls Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall are expected to make a last push for votes. Over 500,000 people are eligible to vote after a surge in membership.
Labour denies claims many people have not yet received their ballot papers.
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said it was hard to gauge the scale of the problem due to the "bureaucratic confusion" surrounding the new membership rules, with people entitled to vote if they pay £3 to become a registered supporter.
'Tribute act'
Mr Corbyn's campaign has capitalised on the rule change and "totally transformed the campaign", he added.
The left-wing MP only made it onto the ballot paper at the last minute when nominations were finalised in June but has become the bookies' favourite.
One of the MPs who helped him onto the ballot, Jon Cruddas, said he was concerned about the prospect of him winning.
Mr Cruddas, who wrote Labour's last election manifesto, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I am worried that [Labour] might turn into quite an early 80s tribute act, a Trotskyist tribute act which has the culture around it which is very hostile to anyone who disagrees and it could just collapse in front of the electorate."
The contest has been plagued by internal rows over Labour's direction and concerns that non-party supporters have tried to influence the outcome.The contest has been plagued by internal rows over Labour's direction and concerns that non-party supporters have tried to influence the outcome.
Labour has sharply increased in size since May's general election, with more than 600,000 people registered to vote in this election. Labour has said efforts to weed out non-party supporters would continue up until results day.
The party is also in the process of choosing a new deputy leader, with the result of the ballot also to be unveiled at the leadership conference on Saturday.
'One member, one vote'
The Labour leadership election was sparked by Ed Miliband's resignation in May, following the party's poor performance at the general election.
The surprise emergence of left-winger Mr Corbyn, a last-minute addition to the race, has led to warnings from his rival candidates and senior Labour figures, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, against a lurch to the left.
Mr Corbyn, who only just secured the required number of nominations to get on the final ballot, has gone from rank outsider to bookmakers' favourite during the campaign.
Labour leadership contestLabour leadership contest
On Wednesday, Mr Burnham told the BBC there were "concerns" people had not received their ballots. Labour said the ballots had been emailed and posted out correctly.
It has advised supporters to check their inboxes for a final email reminder which contained the code they needed to vote.
The party is also in the process of choosing a new deputy leader, with the result of the ballot also to be unveiled at the leadership conference on Saturday.
This is the first time the party has run a leadership contest under new "one member one vote" rules implemented in 2014.This is the first time the party has run a leadership contest under new "one member one vote" rules implemented in 2014.
Previously, Labour's electoral college system gave equal weight to MPs, party members and trade unionists.Previously, Labour's electoral college system gave equal weight to MPs, party members and trade unionists.
Members of the public have also been able to pay £3 to become a registered supporter, entitling them to a vote in the contest - but there has been criticism of the process, with claims of infiltration by non-Labour supporters and calls for it to be paused. Have you experienced a delay to receiving your ballot paper? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
Labour has said efforts to weed out non-party supporters would continue up until results day. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Complaints have also been made from people claiming they have not received their voting papers, but Labour says ballots have been posted and emailed out correctly. Or, you can comment here:
It has also advised supporters to check their inboxes for a final email reminder which contained the code they needed to vote.