How to sign up to vote in the Labour leadership election

Labour leadership contenders Keir Starmer, Jess Phillips, Lisa Nandy, Emily Thornberry and Rebecca Long-Bailey. Photograph: PA/TNE. - Credit: Archant

Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee have revealed details of how and when the leadership contest will work.

People can join through the Labour Party website for £4.38 a month – but only have until Monday 20th January at 5pm to be eligible to have a say in the postal ballot.

This marks a change from the last election in 2016 when a retrospective cut off date was set.

The party said the alteration was intended to ensure the election was as “open and democratic as possible”.

As in 2016, people will also be able to join as a registed supporter online for a one-off fee of £25 provided they are on the electoral register and meet the qualification criteria.

They will have a 48 hour time period to register – this will be between 5pm on Tuesday 14th January and 5pm on Thursday 16th January.

The same rules and timetable will apply to the contest to succeed Tom Watson as deputy leader.

A party spokeswoman said that the special conference will take place on April 4th with the postal ballot of members running from February 21 to April 2.

“We are by far the largest political party in the UK with well over half a million members,” the spokeswoman said.

“We want as many of our members and supporters to take part, so it has been designed to be open, fair and democratic.”

Under the terms of the contest, candidates needed to secure the nominations of least 10% (22) of the party’s MPs and MEPs in the first round.

Those who succeeded then go forward to the second stage when they must get the nominations of 5% of all constituency Labour parties or three Labour affiliates – of which at least two must be trade unions – comprising at least 5% of the fully paid up affiliate membership.