Rigged purge vote concerns

Jeremy Corbyn has voiced concern that supporters have been “unfairly removed“from voting in the Labour leadership election.

MrCorbynconfirmed his campaign has written to the party’s general secretary Iain McNicol in the wake of the suspension of bakers’ union chief Ronnie Draper.

It follows claims from shadow chancellor John McDonnell that thousands of members and registered supporters had been reportedly denied a vote without a proper explanation.

Mr McDonnell, who is chairingMr Corbyn’s bid to be re-elected as Labour leader, warned party officials against “what appears to be a rigged purge of Jeremy Corbyn supporters”.

Asked during a visit to Edinburgh whether he thought the leadership election was subject to a “rigged purge”, Mr Corbyn said: “I’m very concerned that some people seem to have been unfairly removed from the ability to vote in this election.

“A number of people have contacted me as a result of that and we have sent the names in that we’re concerned about to the general secretary, and asked him to make sure that the party checks into this carefully to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to vote in this election. We want a fair and open election.”