The ballot closes at 5pm tonight for Labour’s PLP parliamentary committee and select committee by-elections. The big one is the parliamentary committee, who act as shop shewards for Labour backbenchers. Guido is told it is between Tom Blenkinsop, Karen Buck, Angela Smith, Ian Mearns and the “leadership candidate”: Dawn Butler. Moderates are determined to stop “a new Red Dawn”…

There has been a lot of excitement among moderates over Labour’s select committee by-elections. These had been billed as a straight fight between Corbynite candidates and a moderate slate, though Guido hears the moderates are set for a clean sweep. Sensible Corbyn critic Chris Evans has won PAC. Home Affairs is between Chuka and Simon Danczuk after Paul Flynn pulled out. Chuka is expected to win.

Defence is a key contest, a bunfight between moderate Phil Wilson and left-winger Peter Dowd. If the moderates take Defence and the parliamentary committee, they will see it as a big win…