Labour leadership: Call to pause race 'ridiculous' - Abbott

Diane Abbott has described as "ridiculous" a demand from a senior fellow Labour MP to halt the party's leadership contest.

Barry Sheerman called for the race to be "paused" over fears Labour had been infiltrated by supporters of other parties.

Labour rejects claims of "hard left" and Conservative supporters signing up to back left winger Jeremy Corbyn.

Ms Abbott, who is one of Mr Corbyn's backers, said: "It would be absurd if you halted an election just because you thought your side was going to lose".