Conservative MP Tim Loughton says he has registered to take part in Labour's leadership contest so he can "blow the gaff on what a farce" the contest is. Under Labour's rules, anyone can pay £3 to become a registered supporter - entitling them to vote in the contest - if they provide signed or verbal agreement that they “support the aims and values of the Labour party” and are “not a supporter of any organisation opposed to it”. Mr Loughton said he signed up using his parliamentary address but had no intention of actually voting.He told the Guardian, external: 

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Labour MP Fabian Hamilton says he has seen "no evidence" of other parties and groups trying to hijack the party's leadership election by paying £3 to register to vote, amid reports of "entryism".The MP for Leeds North East tells the BBC he has looked at his constituency party register and did not recognise anyone with links to other parties. But John Ferrett, a Labour councillor in Portsmouth, said he believed people with links to the local Conservative MP and an election candidate from the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition were among those who had signed up.

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Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has given an interview to the Evening Standard, external in which he says it "could well happen" that he leads Labour into government.

Mr Corbyn said this prospect was a "long way off because the ballot papers haven't even gone out yet. It could well happen, let's see what happens. But listen, let's take one thing at a time. Democracy has many interesting turns".

He also unveiled housing measures, including cutting rents, building at least 240,000 homes a year, including 60,000 in London, and floating the idea of extending "right-to-buy" tenants in privately rented properties.

"Labour will not win until the electorate is confident that we have the conviction and policies to address the housing crisis. Our aim must be to ensure a secure home is a basic right".

The Communities Minister Brandon Lewis has been speaking to the BBC about the government's consultation on relaxing Sunday trading rules. Mr Lewis says it's all about letting local people decide. 

"It's going to be down to the mayors and local authorities to work out what is right for them. We want to give them the opportunity but it's up to them how they use it and whether they use that power."

He went on to say the move would have economic benefits: "It's an opportunity to see an increase in our economy of £1.4bn. It gives people more flexibility and more options about when to work; it creates more jobs, and also for people who are in work during the week, more opportunity to go and do their shopping at the weekends but ultimately it will be a matter for people to decide locally where they know what is right and what is best for them."

The former Children's Minister Tim Loughton MP says that Downing Street over-ruled the Department for Education and decided to continue funding Kids Company in 2012.

The Department for Education was responsible for the grant at that time. Mr Loughton says ministers and officials at the department had reservations about the funding. 

Mr Loughton says he recommended funding shouldn't continue to the level the charity wanted "but the decision was taken out of our hands and No 10 decided that the money should be paid and the grant carried on. You are told by Downing St that the money should be paid so therefore it is out of your hands".

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been talking about the tube strike in London, which starts at 1830.

Mr Johnson, pictured above during a horticultural visit this morning, said the management of London Underground "should be allowed to get on and implement the decisions that they've made".

He went on to say the package that has been put forward to union leaders is "very very generous".

Speaking to the BBC about the planned night tube Mr Johnson said: "We're hiring another 137 drivers to make this thing work, it's fantastic for the city, fantastic for London Underground."

You may recall the pre-Budget announcement that there could be changes to the hours shops are allowed to open on Sundays. Well the government has now officially published its consultation paper on the issue. We'll have more on this soon - but if you want to read the document in full, here's the link. , external

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

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A former adviser in the last Labour government has told the BBC he raised concerns about Kids Company as far back as 2007.

He said that there was a "cult of personality" surrounding the charity's founder Camila Batmanghelidjh.

It is also claimed the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown intervened personally to safeguard  funding for the charity.

The adviser who was close to Downing Street said: "Gordon Brown took a personal interest in the funding of Kids Company and he intervened with regards to its funding."

One one occasion it is claimed Mr Brown became involved and began making inquiries after hearing Camilla Batmanghelidjh complaining about funding on Radio 4. 

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The founder of Kids Company is well known for her colourful choice of clothes, and her life story appears to be just as colourful. You can find out more by reading our profile.

Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman has been speaking about the expected closure of Kids Company. Ms Harman, whose constituency of Camberwell and Peckham is served by the charity, said there must be a plan in place to help the vulnerable young people who would be affected if it closed.

Ms Harman said: "Whatever happens to Kids Company, these children and young people must be protected and supported. Such vulnerable young people must not suffer as a result of the breakdown of government confidence in Kids Company". 

"The government must ensure that local authorities and voluntary organisations have the resources they need to make sure that the children and young people who are being supported by Kids Company will not be without that support if the charity closes".

"The government must publish a full report showing what funding decisions they have made in regard to Kids Company, and on what basis". 

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Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman has written to all Labour MPs asking them to check that new members of the party are not trying to skew the outcome of the leadership contest. Read More

In the letter, Ms Harman says officials from individual constituency parties should be checking whether those registering to vote are genuine Labour supporters and don't have links with other political parties. 

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Conservative members of the London Assembly say there should be contingency "insurance" plans put in place to cope during industrial action on the city's Underground network.

A 24-hour strike is due to start at 18:30 BST following the failure of talks to resolve a dispute between unions and London Underground. The four main tube workers' unions are supporting the industrial action.

Richard Tracey, Conservative transport spokesman for the Greater London Assembly said, "It's Londoners who will yet again suffer on their way to work, and businesses will be hit to the tune of £300m a day".

"It's time to establish a pool of relief staff, much like London Fire Brigade's current strike contingency. This means we'll always have a core service even on strike days, and it could be run by retired staff like the fire brigade. It's an insurance policy for Londoners and the Mayor needs to make it happen". 

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A bit more from Andy Burnham's interview on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, in which the Labour leadership candidate was asked about specific policies for women, including flexible working. 

He said: "It's the right to request flexible working from day one, so it's not an earned right that comes with time spent in the job, it's something that people can ask for straight away. I think that's going to be increasingly important in this century when people will be juggling work with their responsibilities to care for older parents".

Mr Burnham said he was also making some proposals around women in politics, saying he would have a "balanced shadow cabinet between men and women". "I just think that's a good principle to have that conversation taking place at the top of the party where it really is a truly balanced conversation and we make sure that women's voices are heard".

While he had "huge respect" for both Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, he said it was "quality of the person and their ideas that should be decisive in this leadership race, it's not a question purely about gender".

Having a family had changed how he viewed the world, he added.

"I’m a father of two daughters and I'll be honest and say that I see the world through different eyes as a result of that. We all of us as a society need to understand how modern life is creating extra pressure on young women and girls and be ever vigilant about that".

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The Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, who's standing to become the next Mayor of London, has been talking about the future of Kids Company and the investigations into abuse claims against former PM Edward Heath.

Speaking to BBC London about the charity, Mr Goldsmith said, "The governance issues around these kinds of organisations, particularly when it concerns public money which it does in the case of Kids Company, are absolutely paramount. The government needs to know, at whatever level that government is, that it's spending wisely, responsibly and money's being spent properly and in this instance it seems not to have been."

Mr Goldsmith also said the Heath investigations should be a "priority".

"I was made aware shortly after being elected of endless stories, which at first I was tempted to dismiss as conspiracy theories but they've piled up, the evidence has mounted. I have absolutely no doubt that powerful people did absolutely appalling things and they were protected so I think this does need to be uncovered. I think it is a priority." 

Writing in the Guardian, external, Michael White says the investigation into abuse claims against Edward Heath must unravel a "solitary, private man". While the former Conservative prime minister may have lacked charisma, he was more than his Mr Europe or “Grocer Heath” caricatures, the veteran political journalist writes. He concludes "many who knew Heath at all well will be surprised if this fastidious loner is shown to have been prey to more human weaknesses than any of them ever suspected".