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| Labour identifies Green candidates trying to vote in its leadership election | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour has revealed that more than 200 Green party candidates are among those caught trying to sign up to vote in its leadership contest ahead of the deadline at midday on Wednesday. | Labour has revealed that more than 200 Green party candidates are among those caught trying to sign up to vote in its leadership contest ahead of the deadline at midday on Wednesday. |
| Party officials released the figures in an attempt to refute claims that it does not have a robust verification process to ensure that people paying £3 to vote as a registered supporter are genuine Labour sympathisers, and not entryists from other organisations. | Party officials released the figures in an attempt to refute claims that it does not have a robust verification process to ensure that people paying £3 to vote as a registered supporter are genuine Labour sympathisers, and not entryists from other organisations. |
| But the Labour MP Simon Danczuk said that he was hearing “horror stories” about infiltration and called for the election to be suspended. | But the Labour MP Simon Danczuk said that he was hearing “horror stories” about infiltration and called for the election to be suspended. |
| “Having seen the list [of registered supporters] in relation to Rochdale and hearing the horror stories from around the country in terms of entryism within the Labour party, I do think we’re moving to a position where the election probably isn’t tenable,” he told LBC Radio. Up to a third of the new supporters in his constituency were suspect, he suggested. | “Having seen the list [of registered supporters] in relation to Rochdale and hearing the horror stories from around the country in terms of entryism within the Labour party, I do think we’re moving to a position where the election probably isn’t tenable,” he told LBC Radio. Up to a third of the new supporters in his constituency were suspect, he suggested. |
| At least three other MPs – John Mann, Graham Stringer and Barry Sheerman – have expressed similar concerns, although the party has said it has “no plans” to suspend the election, which will see the first ballot papers go out on Friday, with the result declared on Saturday 12 September. | At least three other MPs – John Mann, Graham Stringer and Barry Sheerman – have expressed similar concerns, although the party has said it has “no plans” to suspend the election, which will see the first ballot papers go out on Friday, with the result declared on Saturday 12 September. |
| Labour has already excluded around 1,200 members or supporters of other parties who have tried to vote in the leadership contest, and at least 800 more people are being investigated. | Labour has already excluded around 1,200 members or supporters of other parties who have tried to vote in the leadership contest, and at least 800 more people are being investigated. |
| Officials said that, even after registered supporters have cast a vote, their vote can be discounted if subsequent investigations reveal that they back another party. | Officials said that, even after registered supporters have cast a vote, their vote can be discounted if subsequent investigations reveal that they back another party. |
| According to the party, those excluded include 214 people who stood as Green candidates at local or other elections, 37 Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (Tusc) candidates, 13 Conservative candidates, and seven Ukip candidates. | According to the party, those excluded include 214 people who stood as Green candidates at local or other elections, 37 Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (Tusc) candidates, 13 Conservative candidates, and seven Ukip candidates. |
| Some figures in the party fear that “entryists” are helping Jeremy Corbyn, the leftwinger who has become the surprise favourite to win. Polling evidence suggests his support is particularly high among those who are signing up to vote as registered supporters, or trade union affiliated supporters, although Corbyn also has a very strong lead amongordinary party members. | Some figures in the party fear that “entryists” are helping Jeremy Corbyn, the leftwinger who has become the surprise favourite to win. Polling evidence suggests his support is particularly high among those who are signing up to vote as registered supporters, or trade union affiliated supporters, although Corbyn also has a very strong lead amongordinary party members. |
| Corbyn’s supporters argue that his high level of support among registered supporters and affiliates show that he has managed to inspire an army of people hitherto disillusioned with Labour, and that this is good for the party, not bad. | Corbyn’s supporters argue that his high level of support among registered supporters and affiliates show that he has managed to inspire an army of people hitherto disillusioned with Labour, and that this is good for the party, not bad. |
| According to the latest figures, almost 450,000 people could be taking part in the election. On Tuesday the party had 282,000 full members, 92,000 trade unionists signed up as affiliated supporters, and 70,000 registered supporters. | According to the latest figures, almost 450,000 people could be taking part in the election. On Tuesday the party had 282,000 full members, 92,000 trade unionists signed up as affiliated supporters, and 70,000 registered supporters. |
| On Tuesday the party called in representatives of Corbyn, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall in an attempt to clear up confusion about the process and reassure them that no “entryists” from other parties would successfully infiltrate the competition. | On Tuesday the party called in representatives of Corbyn, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall in an attempt to clear up confusion about the process and reassure them that no “entryists” from other parties would successfully infiltrate the competition. |
| The meeting was called by Iain McNicol, the party secretary, and attended by chief whip Rosie Winterton. But despite the party’s attempts to stress the robustness of its verification process, the Guardian has been told by sources present that the meeting raised more questions than it answered, and at least three of the camps are in touch with each other to discuss their concerns about the running of the contest. | The meeting was called by Iain McNicol, the party secretary, and attended by chief whip Rosie Winterton. But despite the party’s attempts to stress the robustness of its verification process, the Guardian has been told by sources present that the meeting raised more questions than it answered, and at least three of the camps are in touch with each other to discuss their concerns about the running of the contest. |
| The party’s official procedures committee will meet on Wednesday to address some of the complaints that have been raised. | The party’s official procedures committee will meet on Wednesday to address some of the complaints that have been raised. |
| Sources in some of the camps present at the Tuesday meeting said concerns were raised over the effectiveness of the verification process, especially given the demands placed on voluntary members of local parties who have been asked to check through huge lists of new supporters. | Sources in some of the camps present at the Tuesday meeting said concerns were raised over the effectiveness of the verification process, especially given the demands placed on voluntary members of local parties who have been asked to check through huge lists of new supporters. |
| Some members of the campaign teams are unhappy that they do not have access to the list of 90,000 new affiliated union members. Some believe unions could provide the names to the Corbyn camp to help with his campaign. None of those making that claim in private were prepared to make it publicly. | Some members of the campaign teams are unhappy that they do not have access to the list of 90,000 new affiliated union members. Some believe unions could provide the names to the Corbyn camp to help with his campaign. None of those making that claim in private were prepared to make it publicly. |
| Because the party is still verifying 70,000 of these new affiliated members, the full list will not be officially available to all four candidates for about another 10 days. Labour said it has 48 members of staff working on verifying applications and another 30 staff at Labour HQ working on additional checks. | Because the party is still verifying 70,000 of these new affiliated members, the full list will not be officially available to all four candidates for about another 10 days. Labour said it has 48 members of staff working on verifying applications and another 30 staff at Labour HQ working on additional checks. |
| A source in one of the camps said there was “no level of confidence we could take” from the party’s assurances about how it was verifying new supporters. The senior source also argued it was “frankly ill-judged” for the party to request an end to people criticising the process. | A source in one of the camps said there was “no level of confidence we could take” from the party’s assurances about how it was verifying new supporters. The senior source also argued it was “frankly ill-judged” for the party to request an end to people criticising the process. |
| A senior source in another camp was more positive about the contest, saying the party seemed to be successfully identifying people who should not be eligible, but added that it was widely agreed that the decision to allow new supporters to register for £3 had been a mistake. | A senior source in another camp was more positive about the contest, saying the party seemed to be successfully identifying people who should not be eligible, but added that it was widely agreed that the decision to allow new supporters to register for £3 had been a mistake. |
| Asked about the process, a Labour spokesman said the meeting had been called to clear up some confusion about how the competition would work. | Asked about the process, a Labour spokesman said the meeting had been called to clear up some confusion about how the competition would work. |
| He denied that the campaigns had been ordered to stop complaining about the process but said the party wanted to make sure it was not undermined by misunderstandings. | He denied that the campaigns had been ordered to stop complaining about the process but said the party wanted to make sure it was not undermined by misunderstandings. |