Meetings to select delegates ahead of this month's Progressive Labour Party leadership battle have had to be re-held because not enough people turned up.

Some constituencies are said to have failed to get quorums because so many people have signed up to branches but then not turned up to the crunch meetings, The Royal Gazette understands.

According to the PLP constitution, if less than 25 percent of a branch turns up to a meeting, a quorum cannot be formed to choose delegates and the meeting has to be reheld.

Overall, the party is expected to have higher numbers of delegates than expected, following rigorous campaigning by Finance Minister Paula Cox and challenger Terry Lister, with a list due to be compiled on Friday next week.

Mr. Lister's supporters continue to cry foul against some in Ms Cox's camp, although they have not suggested anything untoward by the Finance Minister herself.

They say leading party members have been robocalling members for Ms Cox's meetings, and failing to do the same for Mr. Lister's; while some members say they've been put under pressure not to attend Mr. Lister's meetings.

Mr. Lister has previously told this newspaper of suggestions about a "dirty campaign" by his opponent's supporters: "I hear that all the time; I'm very disturbed by it."

Ms Cox did not reply to our questions yesterday but, regarding similar allegations on Monday, she told ZBM news that neither herself nor her strategy team would engage in sabotage.

The other candidate, Dale Butler, said he would follow the rules given to him by the party when the list comes out.

Each branch is entitled to two delegates, plus an extra one for every 20 members it has. So far, 19 branches are said to have selected their delegates.