Labour’s ruling body will meet on Monday to agree the timetable for the party’s leadership race and the rules for the forthcoming contest.

Five MPs – Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry – have so far entered the running to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

Party officials will decide the length of the contest and who can vote in it.

The BBC’s Iain Watson said decisions on the eligibility of new members and registered supporters could be crucial.

More than 500,000 people took part in the last leadership contest, when Mr Corbyn was re-elected in 2016.

He signalled his intention to stand down last month after Labour lost its fourth general election in a row and his second as leader. His successor is expected to be in place before council and mayoral elections at the start of May.

A sixth contender, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey, is also expected to throw her hat into the ring. She is close to Mr Corbyn’s inner circle and represented Labour in an election TV debate.

A new deputy leader also has to be elected after Tom Watson stepped down in December and Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will also set the rules for that contest.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner – who is expected to back Ms Long Bailey for leader – is set to launch her candidacy for deputy in Stockport later.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler and shadow Europe minister Khalid Mahmood have already confirmed they intend to run for the post of deputy. Read more

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