Labour candidates get extra 13 days (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Labour candidates get extra 13 days

4:14pm Thursday 20th May 2010

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Labour has caved in to complaints from candidates for the party leadership by allowing them an extra 13 days to gather nominations.

Left-wing backbencher John McDonnell was the most vocal critic of the original May 27 deadline to secure the backing of the 33 MPs needed to get on the ballot paper.

But as the number of hopefuls swelled to six with the entry of Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott to the race, the party hierarchy announced a delay.

In a statement, general secretary Ray Collins said: "The NEC's procedures committee have considered the period for PLP nominations for the leadership election and have decided that the closing date will be 9 June."