Up to 40,000 Labour supporters could miss out on leadership vote

Jeremy Corbyn - Image credit: Press Association

Allies of Jeremy Corbyn suggest that as many as a quarter of newly registered Labour supporters could be barred from voting in the upcoming leadership contest.

Although no numbers have yet been released by the party, supporters of the leader say 40,000 of the 183,000 people who have become registered supporters recently could miss out on voting.

Officials say often people are ruled out for reasons such as their application not corresponding with the electoral register or because they are already allowed to vote through membership of a trade union.

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People can also be barred from taking part if they have supported a candidate from a rival party in the past.

The Huffington Post reports that another 10,000 applications are still being looked into by Labour’s National Executive Committee, which is overseeing the election.

Corbyn is the favourite to win the contest against Owen Smith.