Labour Leadership Contest Key Dates

As the Labour Leadership contest is finally under way, here are the key dates:

• Tuesday 7 January: Nominations open from MPs and MEPs.
• Monday 13 January: Nominations from MPs and MEPs closes at 2.30pm.
• Tuesday 14 January: Registered supporters applications open at 5pm.
• Thursday 16 January: Registered supporters applications close at 5pm.
• Wednesday 15 January: Second stage of nominations from Constituency Labour Parties and affiliates opens.
• Monday 20 January: Freeze date for eligibility for new members and affiliated supporters, closes at 5pm.
• Friday 14 February: Close of CLP and affiliate nominations.
• Friday 21 February: Ballot opens.
• Thursday 2 April: Ballot closes at 12pm.
• Saturday 4 April: Special conference to announce results.

You can also keep up with the Leadership nominations via the Labour Party web site. 

As in 2016, it is possible for people to join the Party and vote in the contest, provided they do so speedily. At this stage the eventual winner is hard to predict, not least because Labour Party members' reaction to the General Election defeat is completely unknown.