Diane Abbott will struggle to get onto the ballot paper, even with Harriet Harman

Harman nominates Abbott for Labour leader

Harman nominates Abbott for Labour leader

By politics.co.uk staff

Harriet Harman has nominated Diane Abbott for Labour leader.

The surprise development, which sees the acting leader of the party vote for the candidate with the smallest pool of support, has injected colour and surprise into what has been a drab and uninspiring process.

Candidates have just one day to secure the support of 33 MPs needed to get their names on the ballot paper.

Ms Abbott still only has nine nominations. Andy Burnham needs just seven nominations to secure his place in the race.

John McDonnell has just 15 nominations. He finally apologised today after saying the best way to improve life in 1980’s Britain would have been to assassinate Margaret Thatcher during a speech to trade unionists.