Candidates in Labour's deputy leadership race face a frantic few days to secure enough support to make it on to the final ballot sent out to party members.

In a truncated contest to replace Angela Rayner , MPs have until 5pm on Thursday to get the support of 20% of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) – that is 80 Labour MPs. They also need the backing of three affiliates, of which two must be affiliated trade unions or 5% of constituency Labour parties.

"Such a high bar will certainly be difficult for those on the left of the party to meet," said The New Statesman , with left-wing MP Richard Burgon describing the proposed timetable as "the mother of all stitch-ups".

Those who meet the threshold will then go forward to a preferential vote of Labour members, with the winner announced

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