Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn are making their final pitches for support as Labour’s leadership contest draws to a close.
Voting ends at 12:00 BST on Wednesday, with the result announced at a special conference in Liverpool on Saturday.
Mr Smith said Labour was “at a crossroads” between pursuing power and “ongoing division and opposition”.
Mr Corbyn is expected to tell his party to prepare for a general election if he wins.
The Islington North MP is the favourite to win the contest, which has exposed stark divisions between the leadership and most MPs.
Rule changes
Both candidates have spoken of the need to bring the party together after the result is announced.
In an “open letter” to Labour supporters, Mr Smith said he had been “inspired” by the members he had encountered during the campaign and was “proud” of the policies he had put forward.
He said the Conservatives were following a “hard right agenda, which could do untold damage to our country”, adding that “unless we have a radical, credible opposition to the Tories then we won’t be able to stop them – now or at the next election.
“That’s the straight talking, honest truth. I regret the state we are in but I don’t regret being the one to say it.”
Mr Corbyn’s supporters spent the final full day’s campaigning calling thousands of Labour supporters, dubbing it “super Tuesday” as they aimed for 10,000 phone calls.
Meanwhile, another battle – over the party’s internal rules – took place at a meeting of the ruling National Executive Committee.
Deputy leader Tom Watson wants to change the rules to the shadow cabinet is elected by MPs, while Mr Corbyn backs a wider review of party democracy. which could include a stronger role for trade unions. (BBC News)
