Lord Toby Jug - the eccentric politician from St Ives who was kicked out of the Monster Raving Loony Party - has joined the Labour party and will vote in the upcoming leadership contest.

Despite a rigorous vetting procedure to ensure there were no political infiltrators, Lord Jug, who is leader of the Eccentric Party, managed to get his application through.

He was expelled from the Monster Raving Loony Party last year over comments he made about the UKIP leader Nigel Farage and the Wetherspoon’s pub chain who were, at the time, potential sponsors of the Loony Party.

“I paid my subscription and I am a card carrying member,” he said.

“I got through all their things despite being the leader of the Eccentric Party of Great Britain, which just goes to show you how loony and eccentric the whole process is. It’s embarrassing for them I managed to slip through their net.”

He pays £3.88 a month for his membership but says he is still undecided who to back for leader.

“We’re a bit confused in the Eccentric party - but not as confused as those in the Labour Party - so I haven’t actually decided.”

I am sitting on the fence. They’re all as barmy as each other so it’s very hard to choose.”

The candidates for leadership are Liz Kendall, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Jeremy Corbyn.

The Electoral Reform Society has said there were some issues with Labour’s internal election process and establishing who could vote.

A spokesman said: “It’s obvious that there are some people who don’t genuinely support Labour who have signed up and shouldn’t be able to take part.”

Ballot papers were sent out on Friday and the deadline for voting is September 10. More than 42,000 people have joined the Labour party since the General Election.