There were "significant shortcomings" in the way £9.3m of taxpayers' money was spent on plans for Circuit of Wales at Ebbw Vale, a watchdog has found.

Funding was based on a "flawed" appraisal by Welsh Government according to the Wales Audit Office (WAO).
The Welsh Government, which is considering whether to underwrite more than £200m to build the course, said it was "disappointed" by the report.
Circuit of Wales said directors had been exonerated of "false claims".
The report has prompted calls for an investigation into whether ministers broke EU rules on funding private sector businesses, although Circuit of Wales said it has given them a "clean bill of health".
The Welsh Government is scrutinising details of the £425m project.
It wants to study plans in detail and perform due diligence before deciding whether to support the project further.
As well as a motorbike circuit, the proposals now include mountain bike trails, a BMX park, concert facilities and indoor skiing.
There are hopes of 6,000 jobs and 750,000 visitors a year, while the development has the rights to MotoGP until 2024.
The firm behind the project, the Heads of the Valleys Development Company (HoVDC) has had £9.3m of taxpayers' money in loans and grants so far.
Another £16m loan has been agreed but has not been handed over yet.
The WAO report said:
Almost £1m went to a company called Aventa, owned by HoVDC's chief executive Michael Carrick.
However, the audit said £35,000 spent on Mr Carrick's garden in Cambridgeshire and £4,000 sponsoring political events was paid for by Aventa and not by HoVDC or public funds.
The Welsh Government guaranteed - and has since paid - a bank loan to HoVDC of more than £7m.
Ministers guaranteed the loan even though civil servants said it "would be very likely to be considered to be in breach of the (EU) state aid rules".
The project also received a property development grant of £2m, £300,000 of which was spent buying a motorcycle engineering company in Buckinghamshire called FTR.
The report said the Welsh Government could not explain "to our satisfaction" why it approved the funding, which was written off when FTR went bust.
The audit was launched following concerns raised by Monmouth MP David Davies who has been highly critical of the Circuit of Wales and has questioned whether it is viable.
"This can't possibly go ahead at the moment," he said.
"The idea of putting £200m of public money at risk with a company that's unable to account properly for the £9m it's had is totally unacceptable."
He called for a full statement by Economy Secretary Ken Skates and said there should be an investigation into whether EU rules were broken.
Mr Skates has promised to thoroughly assess the final plans for the project before deciding whether to help underwrite the cost.
Developers said the £430m they need would come from private sources, but they want the taxpayer to guarantee about £210m. A final decision is expected next month.
Ministers had already turned down two earlier applications.
Auditor General for Wales Huw Vaughan Thomas said: "It's unfortunate that, in the case of the Circuit of Wales, we have identified significant shortcomings and so the Welsh Government needs to learn from my report, particularly if it decides to provide any further support for the project to progress."
Nick Ramsay, chairman of the assembly's Public Accounts Committee, said the report was the latest example of poor handling of Welsh Government funding for the private sector.
"I am particularly concerned that the auditor general has identified a lack of Welsh Government oversight of payments made by the project to related companies, and also the use of taxpayers' money to purchase a Buckinghamshire-based engineering company that later went into administration," he said.
Circuit of Wales said the report represents a "clean bill of health" for the plans and project and shows that its directors "have been completely exonerated of the false claims made over the misuse of public funds".
It added: "The report shows that we have always operated within conventional commercial practices, ordinary company activity and standard accounting processes and, where the specific Welsh Government loan is concerned, very carefully adhered to and implemented advice on spending eligibility provided by the Welsh Government's relevant officials."
A Welsh Government spokesman said it was disappointed by a number of aspects of the report.
"For example, the report makes repeated reference to our agreement to provide £16million repayable business finance to HoVDC, but  fails to acknowledge that we subsequently took that offer off the table for this latest proposal - despite us pointing this out to the Wales Audit Office," he said.
He described it as "a complex project", but added: "We are satisfied that we have assessed risk against value for money for the taxpayer and have sought to secure the maximum security available from the developer."
The spokesman said funding support was provided to help develop the business proposition for the circuit, to secure planning permission and private finance.
Analysis by Sarah Dickins, BBC Wales economics correspondent
Circuit of Wales is very different from most other projects which have asked for help from the Welsh Government.
For a start, many companies asking for assistance already have some assets, against which a loan or grant can be given.
But this is a project that has grown from a blank sheet of paper - very different from an Aston Martin or a Ford seeking support for investment.
Grants or loans are often made against existing assets, allowing the tax-payer to be reimbursed if fortunes change.
But the HoVDC was specifically set up to develop the Circuit of Wales.
It is a regeneration project for undeveloped moorland; an ambitious plan originating from a blank piece of paper. So, there are no traditional assets to secure or underpin financial support, making it a more risky decision.
The report makes clear that it is not judging the viability of the project but rather how the Welsh Government made decisions about its initial support package, how it managed risks and how it checked funding was used for what it was meant to.
This is the first time we have been able to see the details of negotiations between the developers and the Welsh Government. It explains some of what has been going on behind the scenes - and what has clearly been an uncomfortable and chastening experience for some of those involved.
"A safe bet?" You can still watch BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme on the Circuit of Wales on BBC iPlayer.


Almanzor capped a brilliant season with victory for France in a thrilling Champion Stakes at Ascot.

The 11-8 favourite, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, beat Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Found.
Jack Hobbs was third on Champions Day, Britain's richest raceday, which boasts prize money of £4.26m.
Earlier, Minding clocked up a seventh Group One success to land the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for jockey Ryan Moore.
It was probably the best ever flat racing day in Britain
It was trainer Aidan O'Brien's 21st Group One victory on the flat in 2016, four short of the all-time record held by American Bobby Frankel.
The Tin Man won the Champion Sprint Stakes under Tom Queally, jockey of the legendary retired racehorse Frankel.
Frankie Dettori took the Fillies and Mares Stakes aboard Journey, trained by John Gosden.
A big chunk of the prize money is heading back to France after Almanzor took the feature race, which offered a purse of more than £700,000 to the winner.
The French Derby victor had beaten Found in the Irish Champion Stakes last month and it was the same result this time round before a crowd of 31,835.
Found briefly threatened to draw level with Almanzor in the final furlong but the French challenger pulled away to win by two lengths.
"In the last 100 metres, he kept going - it's amazing to ride a champion like him," said Soumillon.
Stewards held an inquiry after it was discovered Almanzor's team had brought a minor medication into the stables without permission.
A similar issue arose earlier with trainers Francois Rohaut and Hugo Palmer. The matters were referred to the British Horseracing Authority, although they are not thought to be major transgressions.
A stellar campaign for three-year-old Minding continued when she beat the boys to become the first filly to triumph in the one-mile QEII Stakes since Milligram in 1987.
Moore was earning his first Champions Day victory at Ascot in the sixth renewal of the event, guiding the 7-4 favourite to a half-length victory over Ribchester, with Lightning Spear a further length back in third.
Minding's seven top-class triumphs have come over a range of distances and included victories this season in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Nassau Stakes.
"It's unbelievable, she's an incredible filly. A filly who can get a mile and a half and then go and do that," said O'Brien.
Four years after guiding unbeaten Frankel to the last of 14 victories in his farewell race on Champions Day, Queally was among the winners again.
The jockey had long stated that The Tin Man, trained by James Fanshawe for the Fred Archer Racing syndicate, was capable of winning a Group One race and he was proved right.
Queally said the years since Frankel's retirement had been difficult, but compared his fortunes to playing poker.
"I was dealt the best hand of all time a few years ago, but I know I am capable of playing a hand if getting it," he said,
Dettori, who recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his 'Magnificent Seven' at Ascot, treated racegoers in the warm autumnal sunshine to a trademark flying dismount after victory aboard Journey.
Last year's runner-up went one better to win by four lengths from Speedy Boarding, with O'Brien's favourite Seventh Heaven fifth after enduring a troubled passage under Ryan Moore.
"I couldn't believe her turn of foot. She picked up like she had rollerskates," said the winning jockey.
Sheikhzayedroad caused a surprise with an 11th career victory in the opening Long Distance Cup as O'Brien's odds-on-favourite Order Of St George could only finish fourth.
The 11-1 shot, ridden by Martin Harley for trainer David Simcock, saw off the challenge of Quest For More, with the 2015 St Leger winner Simple Verse in third.
Jim Crowley was crowned champion jockey for the first time, while Josephine Gordon took the leading apprentice honour.
Crowley, 38, had been a 66-1 outsider at the start of the season and saw off the challenge of 2015 winner Silvestre de Sousa with a total of 148 winners.
"I'm so proud to be champion. It's beyond my wildest dreams and hopefully my kids will be proud of me," said the father-of-three.
Crowley, who broke the record for the most winners in a month when claiming 46 in September, was presented with the trophy by Olympic showjumping gold medallist Nick Skelton.
Gordon, 23, is only the third woman to be champion apprentice, following on from Hayley Turner (2005) and Amy Ryan (2012).
"For next year, my agent and I have planned for me to try to ride 100 winners," said Gordon, who chalked up her 50th victory of the 2016 championship campaign at Newcastle on Friday night.
BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght
"Almanzor is now the champion of Europe after this decisive confirmation of Irish Champion Stakes form with arch-rival Found, who was runner-up again - and for the second year running in this - though the two-length margin here was more decisive.
"When you consider Minding was third in that race in Ireland, Almanzor's position at the top really is cemented.
"That those three - and plenty more - were at Ascot demonstrates how much depth there was to probably the best ever flat racing day in Britain."


The chairman of a prison watchdog has been suspended after voicing concerns about "bullying" to a newspaper.

Faith Spear refused to step down as chairman of Hollesley Bay prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) after voicing prison reform concerns.
Her refusal, she says, led to her feeling bullied by other board members - a matter she raised with the East Anglian Daily Times.
The government said she would be reinstated if no wrongdoing is found.
None of those accused of bullying Mrs Spear have been suspended, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed.
Live: For more on this and other Suffolk stories
Mrs Spear, of Ipswich, said the situation "just escalated" after she wrote of her concerns about prison reform under the pseudonym Daisy Mallet in this year's The Prisons Handbook.
In it she described herself as a "whistleblower without a whistle". She says she wrote it as a private individual with a passion and interest in prison reform and not as the chairman of the Hollelsley Bay IMB.
The suspension letter from prisons minister Andrew Selous said she was accused of "failing to treat colleagues with respect" and for "acting in a manner which could bring discredit or cause embarrassment to the IMB".
"It all blew up because I refused to stand down," said Mrs Spear. "I voiced concerns about the system yet I have been attacked personally.
"It has been absolutely terrible. But I have no regrets about speaking out. The IMB tried to silence me."
She later spoke of her issues with the board to the EADT which resulted in an article cited by Selous in her suspension notice.
An MoJ spokesman said: "There is an ongoing investigation into Hollesley Bay Independent Monitoring Board.
"No conclusions have been made and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
"As with all public appointments, a member of staff can be suspended during an investigation. If no wrongdoing is found they will be reinstated."


Aston Villa are working with former Football Association executive Adrian Bevington as they continue to rebuild following a disastrous season.

Bevington has been advising Wales in the run-up to Euro 2016 as well as Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Villa board member David Bernstein said: "I'm convinced his experience, contacts and understanding of football will be a tremendous asset."
The Midlands side are 12 points from safety with seven games remaining.
Middlesbrough fan Bevington was managing director of Club England during his 17-year stint at the FA.
Villa have recently added former Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King and club legend Brian Little to their new-look football board, which includes former FA chairman Bernstein.
Chief executive Tom Fox and sporting director Hendrik Almstadt have both left the club, while Remi Garde's future as manager remains uncertain.


A woman has been found dead at a house in Cardiff, police have confirmed.

Emergency service were called to a block of flats at Severn Grove, Pontcanna, on Saturday.
South Wales Police said the circumstances surrounding the woman's death were still being investigated.
One resident reported seeing four police vans and three ambulances at the scene on Saturday morning.


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the club are in talks with Villarreal in a bid to sign defender Gabriel Paulista.

"The talks are progressing quite well," he said. "Can we find an agreement or not I don't know. We are slowly progressing and there is a chance."
The Gunners are likely to have to secure a work permit for the uncapped 24-year-old Brazilian.
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Arsenal signed 17-year-old defender Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw for a reported £2.4m this week.
Wenger said Bielik, who can play in central defence, would be used as a defensive midfielder "without any question".
Regarding Bielik's fitness, he said: "He's not fit because they had the long winter break in Poland so he's at the start of getting back to full fitness and will not be ready for three weeks."
Wenger said there was a "50-50" chance that Paulista, the £15m-rated defender who joined Villarreal from Brazilian side Vitoria in 2013, would join him and added: "We are ready to pay the price we think right for a good player."
But because Paulista is not a European Union citizen and has yet to establish himself as a senior Brazil international, he would not meet the automatic work permit criteria.
Arsenal would have to convince a Football Association hearing that the defender was an "exceptional talent" and so should be granted permission to work in the United Kingdom.
That recommendation would then be passed on to the government department for a final ruling.
Wenger said that Hector Bellerin should be available for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Brighton following ankle trouble, but midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) is a doubt.
The Arsenal manager also said that England striker Danny Welbeck "will need two more games to be back again" and is not in full training yet.


Lancashire seam bowler Glen Chapple is uncertain whether he will carry on playing next season when he will be 42.

The former Red Rose captain played just five times as Lancashire won promotion from Division Two of the County Championship and the T20 Blast title.
Chapple, who led the club for a season after Peter Moores' exit in 2014, has assisted director of cricket Ashley Giles with coaching duties this summer.
"At my age I have no idea if I'm honest," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"If I feel the same as I did at the start of this season and it was felt it was appropriate to be available to play then maybe, yeah.
"I'm not going to announce a retirement or anything, but six months is a long time and my job is to predominantly coach and that's what I'm enjoying."


Hull City plan to replace season tickets with a membership scheme.

The Championship club claim the new system could see some supporters save as much as £282.
Hull will give fans the choice of three different levels of membership, with the cheapest costing £21 a month.
Vice chairman Ehab Allam said: "For too long, the price of football in this country has been much too high. This new scheme will at least ensure the same cannot be said of Hull."
The BBC's Price of Football survey 2015 found that the Tigers' cheapest season ticket cost £531, while their most expensive was £606.
Their cheapest ticket is currently the costliest in the second tier of English football, but eight clubs have more expensive tickets in the top band of pricing.
Allam added: "The membership scheme is about rewarding the supporters for their fundamental part in this remarkable story and ensuring that, wherever the team start their new campaign, the club and the fans will be doing it together."
If the Tigers, currently fourth in the second tier, reach the Premier League this season then some supporters will pay £13 per match next season, while remaining in the Football League will lower that figure to £11 per game.
It is understood this is the first time such a scheme has been tried by a Football League club, although Barnet, then in the Conference, scrapped season tickets in favour of a monthly non-contract membership scheme in 2013.


A housing association has been fined £75,000 following the death of a disabled man who was scalded in a bath.

Joseph Hobbin, 60, was a resident of Kennedy Court in Haddington, which was owned by Ark Housing Association.
While a bath was being run, Mr Hobbin's legs slipped out of a bath chair and went into the water - probably due to an epileptic fit.
The housing association pleaded guilty to two contraventions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
It was fined at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
The presiding sheriff ruled that Mr Hobbin suffered "catastrophic injuries" due to the mishap in June 2013, from which he died two weeks later.
Sheriff Norman McFadyen said the Ark Housing Association had a "blind spot" over its failure to adequately assess the risks of scalding a person in their care.
Sheriff McFadyen added: "It is often said that an accident was waiting to happen.
"Given the lack of systems, training and equipment, it is indeed surprising in this case that there had not been a previous incident.
"Noting as I do the care with which various aspects of risk had been assessed and addressed, it seems all the more puzzling that only the most cursory mention was made in the company's risk assessment material of the need to check that water was not too hot and that nothing was said about how that was to be done."
He added: "Any parent of young children - and indeed most parents-to-be - will be only too aware that testing temperature by pinkie finger-tip at the tap end is not going to give a reliable indication of the warmth of water in a deep bath.
"In this case, the bath was estimated to be three-quarters full. And, indeed, it appears that the support worker did have concerns that the water might be too hot."
In setting his fine at £75,000, Sheriff McFadyen acknowledged that Ark Housing Association had taken "swift remedial action" to prevent another accident and has co-operated fully with investigators. The firm has turned over more than £19m in each of the last two financial years.
Jane Gray, chief executive of Ark Housing Association, said: "This was a tragic accident which we deeply regret.  ARK has been honest and open, and admitted liability.
"We were glad to hear the Crown Fiscal note in court that ARK has co-operated fully with the Health and Safety Executive's investigation and that we took immediate remedial steps to ensure there could be no risk of such an incident occurring again.  These steps included installing Thermostatic Mixer Valves where necessary, providing thermometers, training staff and implementing written instructions for bathing and showering.
"Our deepest sympathies once again go out to Joseph's family and friends."


A petition calling for a transgender woman to serve a prison sentence in a female prison has attracted more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours.

Tara Hudson, 26, from Bath, was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail after admitting assault.
She has had reconstructive surgery and lived as a woman all her adult life but, because she is legally a man, was sent to the all male HMP Bristol.
Her supporters claim it has placed her in danger of abuse and sexual violence.
Hudson was sent to prison on Friday after pleading guilty, at Bath Magistrates' Court, to an assault by beating on 26 December last year.
Her mother, Jackie Brooklyn, said the prison sentence came as a "shock".
"When they said they were taking her to [HMP Bristol at] Horfield I was horrified.
"I don't think she'll cope with it very well. She's lived as a woman for so long. She is a woman.
"To be put into an all male prison, it's like me being put into a male prison."
The online petition, calling for Hudson to be transferred to a female jail, claims she "is in extreme danger of abuse, sexual violence, and even death".
A report published earlier this year found levels of violence at HMP Bristol had "risen sharply" and not enough was being done "to protect some vulnerable prisoners".
A second petition in support of Hudson has received more than 3,000 signatures.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "It is longstanding policy to place offenders according to their legally recognised gender.
"There are strict rules in place to ensure transsexual prisoners are managed safely and in accordance with the law."


The partner of a woman accused of murdering a love rival has said she was "never violent" and he had "no idea" she was allegedly having an affair.

Sarah Williams, 35, and Katrina Walsh, 56, both from Chester, deny the murder of Sadie Hartley at her home in Helmshore, Lancashire, in January.
David Hardwick told Preston Crown Court he "could not believe" Ms Williams had been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Ms Hartley, 60, was stunned with a cattle prod and stabbed.
The prosecution claimed Ms Williams carried out the killing with Ms Walsh's help after becoming obsessed with Ms Hartley's partner, Ian Johnston.
But Mr Hardwick - who continued to live with his wife throughout his relationship with Ms Williams - said he had "never seen her physically violent towards anyone".
Asked if he was shocked when he was informed of her arrest, he replied: "Obviously. I couldn't believe it.
"I asked them if they had got the right Sarah Williams."
The 75-year-old, previously described to the court as a "sugar daddy", said he was 57 when he met Ms Williams, who was 17 at the time.
He said he was unaware of her alleged affair, which was said to be have been taking place while she was living an affluent lifestyle largely at his expense.
The semi-retired heating firm boss said he had paid for a string of holidays, as well as giving her Â£75,000 towards buying a house and paying Â£320 per week into her bank account by standing order.
But he denied she was "a kept woman" and said he took that suggestion "very offensively".
Ms Williams worked part-time in a bank and then at Manchester's Chill Factore indoor ski centre, where she is said to have met ski instructor Mr Johnston, the court heard.
Asked whether Ms Williams had ever shown signs of jealousy towards his wife, he said: "I don't think so."
However, he later agreed that during the early years of their relationship Ms Williams did ask him to leave his wife and became angry when he would not.
Mr Hardwick said Ms Williams had appeared normal when he visited her the morning after the alleged murder.
However, he noted that she "snuggled up" to him as soon as he got into bed, which "stood out in his mind" at a time when their relationship had become non-sexual.
Two days later, on 17 January, he arrived at the house as normal and was greeted by police officers, the court heard.
Ms Walsh is said to have played a key role in helping her friend to "eliminate" her love rival.
The trail continues.


A Hull MP is calling for the government to review the way it carries out tax credit checks following claims that some payments were stopped.

Labour's Karl Turner said he had been contacted by a number of people whose payments stopped due to investigations.
Mr Turner blamed US company Concentrix, which was last year given a government contract to tackle fraud.
Concentrix said "re-evaluation can be difficult" and the government said fraud was at its "lowest level".
The MP described the deal as a "disaster" and said he had received more than 30 complaints from constituents who were sent letters halting their payments while claims were checked.
"People are being left for many, many weeks without any money coming in."
"This is about people who are working hard who are expecting tax credits to come in, rightly, and are being let down by the system."
Mr Turner cited the case of one woman who had her benefits stopped after she received a letter from Concentrix asking her to prove a man named on the electoral roll was not living at the address.
The single-parent, who did not want to be named, told the BBC the man was a previous tenant at the property.
She said it took a "long time" to resolve the investigation by Concentix.
"I've borrowed money to keep myself afloat." she said.
In a statement, Concentrix said: "We appreciate the re-evaluation of individual tax credit claims can be difficult for all concerned.
"When we have made an error we take urgent steps to put things right and we apologise.
"When we have reason to believe something is, or may be, wrong... we write to the claimant to ask for further information to make sure the right money is being paid."
A HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spokesperson said: "Fraud in the tax credits system has been reduced to its lowest level."


A soldier subjected to a "beasting" on one of the hottest days of 2006 was initially treated for a psychiatric episode, an inquest has heard.

Pte Gavin Williams, 22, was made to do intense exercise as punishment for a series of drunken incidents.
Pte Williams, from Hengoed, Caerphilly county, died in hospital from heart failure as a result of heatstroke.
A former Army doctor said there was a "poor passage of information" which led to the initial treatment.
Dr Justin Hammond told the inquest in Salisbury, Wiltshire, that Dr Mark Darbyshire "made reasonable decisions and took reasonable steps to make a diagnosis based on the information he had".
Pte Williams, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, was taken to the medical centre at Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, after being put through the physical exercise punishment on 3 July.
He was later taken by ambulance to Salisbury District Hospital and admitted without any medical notes.
Doctors were not told he had been subjected to heavy exercise that day.
His body temperature was 41.7C, way above the norm of 37C, and tests showed he had ecstasy in his body when he died.
Three non-commissioned officers, Sgt Russell Price, of 2 Rifles, Sgt Paul Blake and Cpl John Edwards, both from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh - who carried out the punishment - were cleared of manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court in 2008.
The hearing continues.


Leeds have scrapped a controversial "pie tax" that had been introduced on some match-day tickets at Elland Road.

The club raised the price of adult tickets in the South Stand by £5, which also included a "meal deal" voucher.
A statement on the club website read: "Meal deal structures have been simplified to help speed up service."
As a result of the changes, the club announced adult match tickets in the South Stand will no longer be sold as part of a meal deal package.
When the increase was announced in December 2015, Leeds Supporters' Trust chairman Michael Green said it showed the club was "out of touch with its supporters".
A number of Leeds fans walked out in the 17th minute of their home game against Hull City on 5 December 2015 in protest against the ticket price increases.


Kenya's government wants to reap the benefits of its newly found oil deposits, but also mineral mining.

15 August 2014 Last updated at 13:27 BST
It wants to take advantage of lucrative licensing deals through capital gains and windfall taxation, but wants to avoid legal wrangling.
The BBC's Anne Soy reports.


A journalist held by police investigating a suspected conspiracy to gather data from stolen mobile phones is Sun chief foreign correspondent Nick Parker, the BBC understands.

The 51-year-old was released on bail having been arrested at a London police station by appointment on Monday.
Mr Parker was also arrested in February by police investigating allegations of corrupt payments to public officials.
He remains on police bail for that alleged offence.
Mr Parker was arrested on Monday by Met Police officers from Operation Tuleta, which is probing allegations of computer hacking.
Scotland Yard later said he had been bailed to return to a central Lodnon police station in late September.
It is the eighth arrest in Operation Tuleta and comes less than a fortnight after a Sun journalist was arrested in the same investigation.
The investigation is running alongside Operation Weeting, into phone hacking, and Operation Elveden, which is looking at corrupt payments by journalists to public officials.
It is thought as many as 16 current or former Sun journalists have been arrested as part of Scotland Yard's investigations into corruption and computer misuse.


Blackberry is suing Nokia over claims that the Finnish company has made use of nearly a dozen of its inventions without permission.

The patent infringement allegations concern data transmission technologies involved in 4G and other types of mobile networks.
The Canadian firm claims several of Nokia's transmitters and software programs use its intellectual property.
Nokia told the BBC that it was looking into the matter.
"We're aware of the complaint, will study the claims made and take whatever steps are necessary to defend our rights," said a spokeswoman.
The case is being pursued in the US.
Blackberry is seeking payment, rather than trying to block Nokia's use of the 11 patents, according to court documents published by the news site Ars Technica.
The filings include claims that Nokia was aware of the patents' existence as it had previously tried to buy some before Blackberry acquired them itself, and that the Finnish firm had also cited related documents in other legal disputes.
The two companies previously clashed in 2012, when Nokia sought to have the sale of Blackberry smartphones banned in the US, UK and Canada in a separate patent row.
Both firms have since stopped designing their own mobile phones and have instead licensed the right to use their brands to other handset makers.


JK Rowling has headed up a list of top writers on Twitter put together by the Scottish Book Trust.

Other names joining the list include Limmy, Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Dr Brooke Magnanti.
The trust has compiled the rundown ahead of next week's Book Week Scotland, which will see more than 450 events taking place across Scotland.
The country's top wordsmith tweeters were picked for followers, interaction and their "social authority" ranking.
Here's a look at the Top 10 writers in Scotland on Twitter, in their own words:
1. JK Rowling - author of the world conquering Harry Potter series.
2. Limmy - comedian, author and gamer.
3. Irvine Welsh - pioneering author of Trainspotting, Filth and Porno.
4. Ian Rankin - Rebus creator and Scottish crime king.
5. Dr Brooke Magnanti - author, forensic scientist and Belle de Jour blogger.
6. Neil Mackay - journalist, novelist, radio broadcaster.
7. Mark Millar - comic book supremo and 20th Century Fox creative consultant.
8. John Niven - A&R survivor, author and screenwriter.
9. Alan Bissett - novelist, playwright and performer.
10. Estelle Maskame - teenage author of Did I Mention I Love You? trilogy
Danny Scott, social media manager at the Scottish Book Trust, said: "People may be surprised to see authors with huge followings ranked lower than authors with more modest numbers.
"But, as this research proves, regular engagement is everything on social media. The authors at the top of this list all interact with their audience and aren't afraid to offer an opinion, or, indeed, be themselves.
"In many ways, the research proves that authors are becoming as much of a commodity as their novels."


The trust behind a project to build a bridge across the Thames in London has criticised a report that suggested the scheme should be scrapped.

The Garden Bridge Trust said Dame Margaret Hodge's review had ignored information.
Lord Davies, chairman of trust, said: "It is a very one-sided report and full of errors."
Dame Margaret said she did not expect the trust to support her conclusions, which were "grounded in evidence".
The trust alleges the review ignored a survey that suggested three-quarters of Londoners supported the bridge and that Dame Margaret had engaged with a "very selective - largely opponent - audience".
Lord Davies said he remained focused on the bridge's future, which was in the hands of the London mayor Sadiq Khan.
"Our message to him is that this report, with its many errors and ill-informed opinions, is no basis upon which to take decisions about a project that has been through the complex democratic processes by which decisions on development are made in this city," he said.
Dame Margaret, MP for Barking and Dagenham, said: "I conducted an extensive inquiry and the conclusions I reached are grounded in that evidence.
"My review has found that too many things went wrong in the development and implementation of the Garden Bridge project."
She added: "Value for money for the taxpayer has not been secured."
The review, which was published on 7 April, said Â£37.4m had already been spent, and even if the bridge did not go ahead it would cost the taxpayer Â£46.4m.
The trust also lost two major private donors and had had no new pledges since August 2016, the review said.
However, Lord Davies argued the trust had put fundraising on hold because of the review and it was confident it could raise the money from donors.
Previously, a City Hall spokesman said the Garden Bridge Trust remained responsible for delivering the project and the mayor of London would not spend any more taxpayer money on the Garden Bridge.


A new school could open in Ipswich town centre in 2019.

Ipswich Borough Council says it plans to buy part of the former Co-op department store on Carr Street, with the help of Suffolk County Council.
The free school could be run by the Active Learning Trust (ALT), which operates four schools in the town.
Borough council leader David Ellesmere said he was glad "a very complex project" could happen, after previous setbacks.
A proposal for a new free school on the site was rejected by the government in April.
For more stories, visit BBC Local Live: Suffolk
A spokesman for the borough council said the cost of the land was "commercially sensitive" so would not be revealed at this time. The proposed purchase of the site will be discussed by the borough council's executive committee on 19 June.
The Labour-led borough council has agreed to buy part of the store from the East of England Co-op, but will hand most of this land over to the government's Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
It will retain a small part of the site for use as a car park, with revenue from that used to cover the purchase cost of the store.
The Co-op would retain the remainder of the site to the west of Cox Lane.
The choice of free school provider is the responsibility of the ESFA. The borough council says it is anticipated it will be run by the Active Learning Trust (ALT), which already operates Chantry Academy and Gusford, Sidegate and Hillside primary schools in the town.
Colin Noble, leader of Conservative-run Suffolk County Council, said the move demonstrated the authority's "commitment to addressing the educational needs in our county town".


Ex-Goldman Sachs banker Steven Mnuchin has vowed a tax overhaul not seen in decades to boost the US economy.

Donald Trump's new Treasury secretary promised "the most significant middle income tax cut since [Ronald] Reagan".
The Wall Street veteran said in a CNBC interview that the new administration also planned to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 15%.
His appointment was announced alongside confirmation that Wilbur Ross will be the new Commerce Department head.
Mr Mnuchin said: "We think by cutting corporate taxes we'll create huge economic growth and we'll have huge personal income... Taxes are way too complicated and people spend way too much time worrying about ways to get them lower."
He said the US could "absolutely" achieve a 3%-4% growth rate, one of Donald Trump's key pledges.
Mr Mnuchin, 53, whose father also worked at Goldman Sachs, is relatively unknown as a public figure, despite building a career as a successful private equity investor and Hollywood financier.
He spent 17 years at the Wall Street bank before leaving in 2002 to set up an investment group which funded big movies such as "Avatar" and "Suicide Squad".
More controversially, he persuaded billionaires George Soros and John Paulson to help him buy the failed bank IndyMac in 2009, which had collapsed under a portfolio of high-risk mortgage loans.
Rebranded as OneWest the bank grew to become one of California's largest lenders.
But it was also accused of driving homeowners into foreclosure to generate earnings - claims Mnuchin has denied.
As Treasury secretary, Mr Mnuchin would be the administration's chief economic spokesman, responsible for selling its economic programme to Congress.
He has been described as bipartisan, however he has known Donald Trump for 15 years and worked as his presidential campaign's finance chairman.
Like Mr Trump, he has also criticised the Dodd Frank act - brought in by the Obama administration to stabilise the banking system - saying it prevented banks lending to smaller businesses.
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Will Donald Trump deliver on his promise of the biggest 'tax revolution' since Ronald Reagan? According to Steven Mnuchin, the man named for the role of treasury secretary, the answer is yes.
He confirmed that Mr Trump will push to cut the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 15%. The President-elect also wants to offer a tax holiday on overseas profits.
This has long been a sore point for congressional leaders who have gone after multinationals that are, in their opinion, not paying their fair share.
The most striking example is the technology giant Apple. Its chief executive Tim Cook has said in the past that he would "love to" repatriate Apple's foreign profits but that he can't because it would cost too much.
US firms are supposed to pay federal taxes on their global profits, but the tax on money made overseas is only due when it's brought back to the US.
American companies have an estimated $2.6 trillion in profits sitting untaxed overseas. By lowering the corporate tax rate, Donald Trump wants to give companies an incentive to bring that money back to US shores where it can be put to use to boost growth and create jobs.
But many economists argue that lowering the corporate tax rate to 25% would have the same effect without as much lost revenue.
And then there's the politics. Donald Trump's plan can only be enacted by changing the tax law.
And while Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress, their grip on the Senate is less firm. There, Republicans are likely to hold only 52 seats, leaving the door open for Democrats to obstruct or delay any tax reform and prevent them from reaching the 60 votes needed.
Mr Mnuchin also complimented Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, saying she had done a good job, but declined to comment on whether she would serve the rest of her four-year term, which ends in early 2018.
"Eventually we are going to have higher interest rates and that's something that this country is going to need to deal with," he added.
Mr Mnuchin will be the third ex-Goldman Sachs banker to serve as Treasury secretary, but, with no prior government experience, some say he could struggle to navigate the world of Washington politics.
"People who come from Wall Street quickly find that they can't just make a decision and have it happen," said Stanley Collender, a communications expert who previously advised the House and Senate Budget Committees.
"It's not like being a CEO. There is a lot more compromise involved."
As head of the Commerce Department, Wilbur Ross will be responsible for managing America's business and trade policies.
The 78-year-old financier has been called the "king of bankruptcy" for buying distressed companies and turning them around, and has personal wealth of about $2.9bn, according to Forbes magazine.
Mr Ross advised Mr Trump on the campaign trail, in particular helping him shape his protectionist trade policy positions.
Mr Ross has blamed the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, and China's 2001 entry to the World Trade Organization, for causing huge US factory job losses.
In a statement announcing his choice, Trump said: "Wilbur Ross is a champion of American manufacturing and knows how to help companies succeed.
"Wilbur knows that cutting taxes for working families, reducing burdensome government regulations and unleashing America's energy resources will strengthen our economy at a time when our country needs to see significant growth."


A Dutch security official meant to protect anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has been arrested on suspicion of leaking his location to a Moroccan criminal gang.

Police said the official was of Moroccan descent but not a bodyguard.
Mr Wilders, who has called some Moroccans "scum", told Prime Minister Mark Rutte the breach was "unacceptable".
Opinion polls suggest Mr Wilders' populist Freedom Party could win most seats in next month's election.
The officer from the DBB security team was detained on Monday for "sharing classified police information in the private sphere", police spokesman Dennis Janus confirmed to the Associated Press news agency.
The DBB is responsible for security around the Dutch royal family, diplomats and high profile politicians, like Mr Wilders, based in the Netherlands.
Local media, citing security sources, said the information was being passed to a Dutch-Moroccan gang.
Mr Wilders has been under 24-hour police protection for more than a decade, due to death threats.
But National Police Chief Erik Akerboom told a Dutch radio station he did not believe Mr Wilders' safety had been compromised, as the officer was not part of the inner circle protecting the politician.
However, Mr Wilders, who was found guilty of hate speech over his promise to reduce the number of Moroccans in the country last year, tweeted: "If I can't blindly trust the service (DBB) that has to protect me, I can no longer function. This is unacceptable."
Mr Wilders' Freedom Party is expected to do well in Dutch parliamentary elections, but other mainstream parties say they will not join a coalition with the group due to its anti-Islam stance.


Irish police have said a detective shot dead in an attempted robbery near Dundalk in County Louth was killed without warning.

Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, was shot at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan at about 21:30 GMT on Friday.
Irish police said he did not produce his weapon before he was shot.
The 41-year-old was one of two detectives on escort duty when an attempted robbery took place.
His colleague, Det Joe Ryan, has been severely traumatised but is otherwise unhurt.
Police are looking for four men in a dark-coloured Volkswagen Passat.
The area has been sealed off while police attempt to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the Police Service of Northern Ireland has been informed.
Det Garda Donohue, who was married with two children, is the first member of the force to be shot dead on duty since the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe in 1996.
Det McCabe was also shot dead on escort duty outside a post office in Adare, County Limerick.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said everyone in the police force was "deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of our colleague".
"My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone in An Garda Siochana, and I'm sure the wider community are with the Donohue family," he said.
"We will be doing everything in our power to catch the perpetrators of this terrible murder."
The garda commissioner added that his wife Caroline and two of his brothers were also police officers and that Det Donohue was a "very popular, effective and efficient" member of the force.
Irish President Michael D Higgins said all Irish people "will be truly appalled" by this "dreadful crime".
Ireland's Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said people had respect for those working in the Irish police force.
"They will share my revulsion and horror that a garda (Irish police officer) has so tragically lost his life in the course of his duties."
Stormont Justice Minister David Ford said he and Mr Shatter had reinforced their commitment to work together against criminal gangs.
"I condemn this brutal murder of Garda Donohoe and offer my deepest sympathies to his family and fellow Garda officers," he said.
"Anyone with information should pass it to the appropriate authorities so these dangerous people can be brought before the courts."
The Garda Representative Association President John Parker said it was in "deep shock" following the killing.
"This dreadful news is what every police family fears," he said.
"At this time the wider garda family will be doing everything possible to support the late garda's relatives and loved ones, friends and colleagues."


Hibernian retained the SWPL Cup with an impressive 4-1 win over Celtic at Broadwood.

Kirsty Smith's stunning goal gave Hibs a dream start, but Ruesha Littlejohn levelled within a minute.
Lucy Graham restored Hibs' lead from close range before Rachel McLaughlan made it three with a tap-in just after the break.
Hibs continued to dominate and Rachael Small added a fourth 10 minutes from the end.
Head coach Chris Roberts has now guided Hibs to the last three domestic cups, as they also won the Scottish Cup last term.
The game did not take long to come to life with both sides scoring in the opening minutes.
Hibs full-back Smith found herself in space outside the box, spotted goalkeeper Megan Cunningham off her line, and sent a delightful effort high into the net.
Almost from the restart Celtic were level.
Cailin Michie struggled to deal with a diagonal pass and there was Littlejohn to coolly slot the ball into the far corner.
The pace was relentless. Littlejohn forced a save from distance before Hibs twice went close through Katey Turner.
First she volleyed into the side netting then she almost found the far corner with a low drive, only to be denied by a brilliant one-handed save from Cunningham.
Hibs always looked the more likely to get a second goal and it arrived in 34 minutes.
Jaclyn Poucel's effort was blocked by fellow American Darcy McFarlane but the ball broke to Chelsea Cornet, who picked out Graham for an easy finish.
Celtic almost repeated their trick of an instant equaliser but Natalie Ross' shot was blocked by Emma Brownlie.
At the other end Brownlie almost made it three, heading a free-kick off a post.
Hibs got their third a few minutes into the second half when Turner collected Abi Harrison's pass and picked out McLaughlan, who broke through the Celtic defence and knocked the ball into the net.
Hibs made it four with 10 minutes to go.
Lia Tweedie skipped past three players on the right hand side and cut it back for Harrison whose shot was blocked, but when the ball fell to Small she squeezed it in at the near post.
Amy Gallacher went close to adding a fifth that would have been harsh on Celtic.
Hibernian head coach Chris Roberts: "I'm so proud of the girls. It's unlike us to concede such a sloppy goal and to be fair I felt for the majority of the first half Celtic were on the front foot. The second half I thought they were great, when the third goal went in it relaxed us more and we kept the ball better.
"We gave a lot of players an opportunity at 16 and 17 and now we're reaping the rewards. It's testament to them how much desire they have to win things and three trophies now in the last 12 months and we definitely want to build on that."
Celtic head coach David Haley: "It was difficult to lose a goal straight after half-time. We told them not to take risks and they've tried a pass and it's not came off for us. That naturally deflated us, but first half I thought we were excellent. I don't think the score line reflects how the game was.
"We do just need to be a bit more clinical. We are getting closer, everybody can see that, they're not as one-sided as they were a couple of years ago. But we need to find a way of getting something what we did against Glasgow City (1-1 draw), getting a result, getting a draw, and then hopefully that will spur us on and give us more belief, but it just wasn't to be today."


Archers actor Arnold Peters, who played businessman Jack Woolley in the Radio 4 soap, has died at the age of 87 at a care home in Northamptonshire.

Peters, who had Alzheimer's disease, joined the show as Jack in May 1980 and was last heard on air in July 2011.
A storyline which told of his character's Alzheimer's helped the show to win the Mental Health Media Award in 2007.
June Spencer, who played wife Peggy, paid tribute to a "complete pro".
"He loved acting - it was his life," she said.
"I picture him in the latter days in the green room with his stick and his cap, always very genial."
She added: "He was very conscientious - he always turned in a good performance no matter what we were doing."
She said Peters, who took over a part originally played by Philip Garston-Jones, was "very active, all the time, whether it was for charity or professionally", and produced amateur dramatic shows, was a country dance caller and a drummer.
In 2011, the Archers team visited Peters at his home, near Northampton, to record what would be his final scenes.
"His memory was failing but he could still turn in a good performance," said Spencer.
"He read it perfectly. We worked together just as we'd always done, up to the last."
Peters, who died on Saturday afternoon, had previously appeared in the Archers playing characters including Welsh farmhand "with a past" Len Thomas, in 1953, and Rev David Latimer, from 1968 to 1973.
His character Jack Woolley, who was born in Birmingham in 1919, was previously married to Valerie, who he divorced in 1974, and had a loyal chauffeur, Higgs, and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Captain.
In 2009, the character moved into the Laurels care home, where he still lives.
The Archers editor Vanessa Whitburn said that, with "enormous skill", Peters took the character of Jack Woolley "from sharp, sometimes ruthless businessman, mellowing through the years into retirement and eventual dependence on wife Peggy, as Alzheimer's set in".
"Only the best actors can fine tune those character arcs over many years and Arnold was the best," she added.
After serving in the RAF during World War II, Peters worked at Northampton Repertory Theatre - now the Royal Theatre, Northampton - for five years.
He performed in BBC Children's Hour productions and was also a member of the corporation's Drama Repertory Company in Birmingham.
In the 1990s, he appeared as a grandfather in TV adverts for Werther's Original toffees


Two teenagers were found hiding under the floorboards of a cannabis farm during a police raid.

The pair, aged 18 and 17, were discovered during the search, which also uncovered about 100 marijuana plants inside the house in Liverpool.
Merseyside Police said the crop, found in Suburban Road, Anfield, on Thursday, had an estimated annual yield of Â£400,000 a year.
Both men were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis.


The Indian government has sent a team of eye specialists to treat those injured during violence in Indian-administered Kashmir over the weekend.

At least 36 people died and more than 1,500 others were injured in clashes between security forces and protesters.
Many have eye injuries after being hit by pellets fired by the forces and doctors say 100 people may lose vision.
Protests broke out in the Muslim-majority region after security forces killed a well-known militant leader.
Burhan Wani, 22, died in a gunfight with the Indian army on Friday.
The team of three eye specialists was sent from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), a leading Delhi hospital, to Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir.
India's Health Minister JP Nadda said the doctors arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday.
Reports said the security forces used live ammunition and also pellets fired from shot-guns to chase away the tens of thousands of protesters who took to the streets in the valley, throwing rocks at troops and attacking police posts.
The pellets - made of rubber-encased steel - are meant to be non-lethal but doctors say they have caused serious head and eye injuries in many victims.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti made a televised appeal for calm following days of clashes. The violence is the worst seen in the region for years.
The violence has been condemned by Pakistan, which along with India claims Kashmir in its entirety, and there has been a sharp exchange between diplomats of both countries at the United Nations.
Kashmir has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years, sparking two wars between the countries.
Within the Muslim-majority territory, some militant groups have taken up arms to fight for independence from Indian rule or a merger with Pakistan.
The last bout of serious violence in the region was in the summer of 2010, when more than 100 people died in anti-India protests, which broke out after police shot dead a teenager.


David Cameron needs to "get real" and ditch his "surreal obsession" with opening GP surgeries seven days a week, a senior GPs' representative says.

The British Medical Association's Dr Chaand Nagpaul said GP services were already at breaking point.
He will tell a conference that pledges to recruit 5,000 GPs in England would "fail dismally" as doctors were fleeing the profession.
The Department of Health said it was an "overly negative, pessimistic view".
During the election campaign, the Conservatives pledged access to GPs between 08:00 and 20:00, seven days a week, by 2020 in England.
The party also pledged everyone over 75 would get a same-day appointment.
But the proposals have been lambasted in the first major speech by GP leaders since the election.
Dr Nagpaul, the chairman of the BMA's GP committee, , will tell the annual conference of local medical committees: "The government must halt its surreal obsession for practices to open seven days when there aren't the GPs to even cope with current demands.
"It would damage quality care by spreading GPs so thinly, and replace continuity of care with impersonal shift work, and will reduce our availability for older, vulnerable patients."
He will argue no other country was attempting such a plan, while the NHS was pressing ahead with "fewer GPs per head than in Europe, while spending less on health compared to virtually all other comparable nations".
General practice is key to plans to shift more care out of hospitals into the community.
But Dr Nagpaul will use the speech to say demand on services has soared as practices are used as the "backstop for every problem in the NHS and beyond".
There were 40 million more GP appointments annually than five years ago, yet the proportion of NHS funds spent in general practice was falling, he will say.
Dr Nagpaul also pointed to a survey of 15,000 GPs which showed one in three intending to retire and one in five planning to move abroad in the next five years.
Many cited overwhelming workloads.
"It's absolutely pointless promising 5,000 extra GPs within this Parliament if we lose 10,000 GPs retiring in the same period," Dr Nagpaul will say, adding that it would be "utter folly" to dismiss this as simply GPs "scaremongering".
He said there needed to be a national campaign to highlight the pressures on GPs and to encourage patients to use other services such as pharmacies.
He also called for a "complete overhaul" of the non-emergency NHS111 phoneline service as it was "clogging up our appointments".
He said the service referred five million more patients to general practice rather than helping them to care for their conditions at home.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "This is an overly negative and pessimistic view from the doctors' union.
"Thousands of GPs across the country are already offering patients GP access seven days a week - by next March, a third of the country will be covered.
"We have made it very clear that we will train 5,000 more GPs and have backed the NHS's own plan for the future by investing the Â£8bn it needs to transform care closer to home."


A post-mortem examination is set to take place later to find out how a 12-year-old girl from East Yorkshire died during a school trip to France.

Jessica Lawson, from Wolfreton School, near Hull, fell into a lake near Meymac in the Massif Central region on Tuesday.
French radio reports have said Jessica was among a group jumping from a pontoon which had overturned.
It had then trapped some children beneath it.
Jessica was one of 24 students who were on a five-day trip to an activity resort.
Head teacher Dave McCready said it was a "dreadful shock" to the whole school.
"As a parent myself I only begin to imagine the pain felt by her parents and family at her death at such a young age."
Jessica and the rest of the group had left for France on 18 July and had been due to return home on Thursday.
Steve Scott, managing director of trip organiser Activ4, said the group were swimming after activities scheduled by adventure camp staff had concluded.
The adventure centre, according to its website, has been operating for about 25 years and specialises in activities such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing and boarding as well as climbing, mountain biking and orienteering.
A criminal investigation has been opened to establish whether the resort was negligent.


Three Powys secondary schools should be shut and the number of sixth-forms in the county cut to just six, according to a report being considered by the authority.

The education review also wants to establish at least one Welsh medium secondary school in the county.
It is understood that the report compiled by Price Waterhouse Cooper would put 97 jobs at risk.
The review will be considered by the council's cabinet on 27 January.
"The review provides us with clear evidence that we need to reduce the number of secondary schools, sixth-forms and change the way we deliver Welsh medium education to make the most of our resources and deliver a service fit for the 21st century," insisted Arwel Jones, who is responsible for education in Powys council's cabinet.
"The findings are not the end of the process but the start of an intensive period of work that aims to provide a secondary school structure that can deliver the very best for learners of Powys."


Widespread improvements to trains in the north of England and Scotland have been promised with the announcement of new contracts for two rail franchises.

The Northern Rail franchise is being awarded to Arriva Rail North Ltd, while TransPennine Express is going to First Trans Pennine Express Ltd.
The Department for Transport said the deals would see the introduction of 500 new carriages.
The outdated and unpopular Pacer trains would also be phased out.
Trains would have room for 40,000 extra passengers at the busiest times, and more than 2,000 extra services a week would be delivered, the DfT said.
The two train operators will oversee Â£1.2bn of investment into the railways, according to the announcement.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the plans would help deliver a "world class rail service" as part of the government's Northern Powerhouse project.
"As a one nation government we are committed to closing the economic gap between north and south," he said.
"This deal, and the joint management of the franchises, will bring the Northern Powerhouse to life."
Other promises in the announcement include:
Mr McLoughlin added: "Arriva Rail North Limited and First Trans Pennine Express Limited went far beyond our requirements with exciting, ambitious plans that will make a real difference to customers.
"Coupled with our commitment to push ahead with electrifying the vital TransPennine route, [they] will help the region realise its full economic potential, ensuring it has a modern 21st Century transport system."
This morning the Department for Transport published the details of new franchises for Northern and TransPennine rail services.
David Sidebottom, a director at the independent watchdog Transport Focus, welcomed the announcement, but stressed that several issues, including staffing, must be addressed.
He said: "Passengers will be pleased to hear that they are a step closer to new franchises and all the certainty that brings.
"They will especially welcome the confirmation of new trains, additional services and increased capacity responding to some of the most important priorities for improvement.
"Alongside this it is critical that issues with punctuality, information provision and staffing are addressed."


Levels of public trust and confidence in police are higher when officers are deployed on horseback, a report suggests.

The number of mounted units in Britain has fallen from 17 in 2012 to 12 in 2014, amid pressures on budgets.
And the study commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers set out to assess the value of the patrols.
Researchers say they could have a greater role in neighbourhood policing.
Interviews with police and the public were conducted by the University of Oxford and research group RAND Europe between February 2013 and August 2014.
They examined the reaction of members of the public when neighbourhood patrols by pairs of mounted police officers were trialled in three areas in Gloucestershire and London in March 2014.
They also looked at the use of mounted units at the Glastonbury Festival, football matches and demonstrations.
On average, police on horseback were said to have six times as many casual interactions with the public as those on foot patrol. But the study said their value also depended on the character of the rider, with the more personable and outgoing an officer, the better.
The report acknowledged the "unique role" mounted units had in dealing with crowds and disorder, highlighting situations where police on foot or in vehicles would be ineffective.
But it was, it added, difficult to say "successful outcomes" at crowd events were solely down to the presence of mounted units.
A "primary benefit" in using mounted units in neighbourhood policing was attributed to the patrols increasing the visibility of officers.
Report co-author Ben Bradford, from the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford, said: "In community settings, the horse and rider combination appears to act as a sort of ambassador and 'ice-breaker' for the police.
"People come up to say 'hello' or to make a fuss of the horse before having a quick conversation with the officer."
He added: "Many people react positively to greater police visibility in their neighbourhood, and we believe this translated into higher levels of trust and confidence in the areas where the mounted patrols took place."
Acpo's national lead for mounted policing, Deputy Chief Constable Rod Hansen, said the research provided forces with "new evidence suggesting that mounted units still have great utility in modern policing".
"Despite the financial limitations, we must ensure that we do not inadvertently lose a capability that offers so much to policing services without fully understanding the consequences," he said.
The researchers say the drop in mounted units in recent years "raises a number of questions about both local and national policing capacity".
But they say their report does not set out to recommend how forces spend their budgets or whether they should have mounted units.
The British police forces with mounted sections are: Avon and Somerset Constabulary; City of London Police; Greater Manchester Police; Lancashire Constabulary; Merseyside Police; Metropolitan Police; Northumbria Police; Police Scotland; South Wales Police; South Yorkshire Police; Thames Valley Police, and West Yorkshire Police.


A total lunar eclipse has been visible across much of the Americas and Asia, resulting in a dramatic "Blood Moon".

Media playback is unsupported on your device
8 October 2014 Last updated at 15:52 BST
A lunar eclipse is when the Moon is fully covered by the Earth's shadow. It is the second one this year.
The Moon's surface showed up coppery orange or red because the light from all the Earth's sunsets and sunrises were reflected on to it during the eclipse.
In this timelapse, the Moon can been seen re-appearing as the shadow moves away.


Celtic's move for Rivaldo Coetzee has fallen through after he failed a medical, his club have confirmed.

The 20-year-old Ajax Cape Town defender was expected to join the Scottish Champions within the next few days.
But his club said on their website: "Following a routine medical examination carried out by the Celtic medical department they discovered an underlying problem with his right foot.
"The clubs were therefore unable to conclude the deal."
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said after Saturday's 1-1 draw with St Johnstone that physio Tim Williamson had flown to South Africa to complete the medical.
The Ajax Cape Town statement continued: "We can confirm that Rivaldo Coetzee will return to the club from Johannesburg where the player was undergoing a medical examination ahead of a proposed transfer to Scottish champions, Glasgow Celtic.
"The player will return to Ajax Cape Town for further evaluation.
"The injury has not hampered Coetzee to date, having not missed out on any competitive action either for his club or the national team. Ajax Cape Town can confirm that they were not aware of any condition that would have potentially hampered a transfer to Celtic.
"While disappointed that the deal could not be completed at this point, the club are fully committed to giving the player the care and attention required in order to make a full recovery."
The transfer window closes on 31 August and Rodgers revealed on Saturday he expects to have a "number of additions to the squad" before then, although he said there was no movement on the club's bid to bring Patrick Roberts back on loan from Manchester City.
The Scottish Champions stretched their unbeaten domestic run to 53 games thanks to Callum McGregor's leveller against St Johnstone on Saturday.
And after the match Rodgers called on the home support to show patience with his side as they try to stick to his passing philosophy.
"I always ask the players to play, to have the courage and the nerve to do that, and if they make a mistake it is up to me," Rodgers said.
"We had one example with Kieran (Tierney), under pressure with no-one near him, probably felt as a young player that he had to smash it forward and we end up giving the ball away.
"I was signalling to stay calm. This is football. You have to stay calm when under pressure, not just the players but outside.
"Or you can play Scottish football. Just smash it up the pitch. It hasn't got you anywhere for 20-odd years.
"It is understandable that the supporters want to see the ball in the box.
"But I've said since I came up here, the quicker it goes forward the quicker it comes back at you."


Robert Peston's new ITV Sunday politics talk show has received lukewarm reviews following its debut this weekend.

The BBC's former economics editor launched Peston on Sunday with guests including chancellor George Osborne and documentary maker Louis Theroux.
Writing in The Guardian,  John Crace said the show's changes of tone "felt a bit amateur hour".
Ben Lawrence in The Telegraph felt Peston "looked uncomfortable".
Peston left the BBC earlier this year to become  ITV News's political editor.
But it has been his solo Sunday show that has been much-anticipated, with conjecture over whether it could rival the Andrew Marr Sunday morning politics show on BBC One.
Marr's show, which goes out an hour earlier, included interviews with Prince Harry and justice secretary Michael Gove.
Peston's other debut guests  included Tony Blair's former aide Alastair Campbell and former employment minister Esther McVey.
Lawrence said the show "did not start well" and highlighted the relaxed set and style.
"Fans of daytime TV may have found much to admire in the pastel-shaded set, but it jarred horribly with the serious journalistic tone," he said.
He noted the laid-back approach extended to Peston's own appearance, which included an open-necked shirt and "that lank haircut beloved of arts undergraduates".
Meanwhile, despite the lack of ceremony, Lawrence said Peston's discomfort was evident in the way he "whizzed through the show's topics while evoking the false bonhomie of a warm-up act".
The discomfort, he said, was contagious, with Campbell sporting "a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp" and McVey dropping her croissant.
Meanwhile Crace also chose to be tongue-in-cheek about Peston's "much-hyped Nicky Clarke haircut" and the "CBeebies atmosphere" of the show.
But while Peston seemed near to "hyper-ventilating" with nerves ahead of the first commercial break, things were completely different on the show's return, he said.
"Suddenly the whole show began to - if not make sense - at least click into gear," he said.
Having been lulled into a sense of security before the break, Mr Osborne was not ready for Peston suddenly "going for the jugular" over the economy, said Crace.
"Osborne tried to rescue the situation but could only dig himself in deeper by resorting to platitudes.
"By the end he couldn't wait to get out of the Peston's playpen."
Also writing in The Guardian, Mark Lawson was won over by Peston's obvious nerves, which showed a "touching vulnerability that may have usefully undercut, for some viewers, the allegations of arrogance that have sometimes haunted the broadcaster".
He also focused on the differences to Marr's show, pointing out the contrast of Peston's audience-friendly touches to Marr's serious "button-holed" approach.
These touches included a "book club" and a digital screen, to display messages such as tweets, nicknamed "Screeny McScreenface".
In the end, Lawson was not totally satisfied or displeased by Peston's show and chose to ponder on its future.
"Although Peston and Marr are not going head-to-head, there must still be a question over whether Sunday morning can sustain two news overviews," he said.
"Despite showing promising signs, amid inevitable first-morning nerves, of being lively and likable, Peston on Sunday risks winning the energy medal but losing the ratings war to the tie-knotted, old technology Marr."
Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail seemed to agree.
Letts was scathing of the relaxed elements to Peston's show, including the "glasses of orange juice and a bowl of croissants which, as ever, went uneaten" and the set's "funky glass desk".
But overall he concluded: "On the day, Marr's editorial content outperformed Peston but Pesto himself was arguably the more fascinating compere."
And turning away from the professional commentators, the Radio Times asked the audience what it had thought of the show.
Recalling Peston had previously told the listings magazine he "wanted to interview politicians in a new, revealing way", it asked readers on Monday: "Did he fail, or do exactly what he set out to do?"
Hannah Skeggs was happy, tweeting: "Like Peston on Sunday format. Live feedback combined with calm interview style = cup of tea Sunday viewing."
Tony Colville agreed but found it hard to take the show entirely seriously: "Peston is a great way to wake up on a Sunday with a hangover. Awkward George interview, heckling quietly from the back."
Matthew McEvoy went further, joking: "Disappointed that Peston on Sunday is a political show. I was looking forward to seeing some Italian cooking."
Meanwhile, deputy Labour leader Tom Watson seemed impressed and angling to be invited on as a guest.
"Like the studio look of Peston on Sunday, particularly the big chair for the fuller figure."


A boy arrested in Northern Ireland over a cyber-attack on TalkTalk is suing three national newspapers for an alleged breach of privacy.

Lawyers for the 15-year-old have also begun proceedings against Google and Twitter.
The lawsuit centres on publicity surrounding his arrest last month by police probing a major hack into the phone and broadband provider's website.
Details of the case emerged after some reporting restrictions were lifted.
The three newspapers defending the action - The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Sun - all gave undertakings to protect the boy's identity pending the outcome of the case.
The judge at the High Court in Belfast also granted injunctions against Google and Twitter in a bid to remove any online references to the teenager's name and address, and images or information about his physical appearance.
The boy was among four people to be detained in connection with the TalkTalk hacking probe.
He was interviewed on suspicion of offences under the Computer Misuse Act before being released on bail.
Since then, his lawyers have issued writs claiming negligence, misuse of private information, defamation, breach of confidence and data protection.
As part of their action, they took legal steps to secure the removal of material published about the boy and where he lived.
The court heard that his family has had to move home after the publicity around his arrest.
It was claimed that he could be identified from newspaper articles and photographs that appeared at the time.
A barrister for the boy said the content contributed to his client being "stigmatised" within his community.
He said the teenager's name also featured in tweets and online searches.
During one of a number of hearings in the case, a lawyer for the Daily Mail rejected claims that it had revealed his identity.
She said the newspaper altered the boy's appearance and changed his hair colour in the photo it used.
She said his name and address had not been published, and added: "It's our client's view that they did not identify the plaintiff."
A temporary ban on reporting on the application for an injunction was imposed over fears that it could trigger further internet searches.
But after steps by Google and Twitter to remove the information, reporting restrictions were relaxed.
An order prohibiting the publication of any material that could lead to the boy being identified remains in place.
The case is due to be heard again next month.


How have we found ourselves in this strange situation where privacy campaigners who have pushed for tighter rules are up in arms because the private life of a single cabinet minister was not reported?

If you're scratching your head lets let's start briefly with what has actually happened.
Between August 2013 and February 2014 when he was chair of the powerful Commons culture and media committee the Conservative John Whittingdale had a relationship with a woman who he met online on the dating site match.com - he only found out that she was a sex worker when a reporter contacted him with that information, and as soon as he was aware he ended the relationship.
More than a year later he is promoted to be the culture secretary - taking responsibility for press regulation. Crucially he did not tell Downing Street that some of the newspapers had this story about his private life, that Labour's Chris Bryant has described as a 'sword of Damocles' hanging over his head.
The political question is whether or not therefore he knowingly entered into an insufferable conflict of interest - and whether his decisions on the press were influenced by his own situation. He absolutely denies that. Of course Number Ten isn't exactly delighted about it all but they say he is a single man who had a relationship, move on.
Why does it matter now?
There is unfinished business from the Leveson Inquiry into the hacking scandal. The second part of the inquiry looking into ties between the papers and the police hasn't yet taken place. It was put on hold while the legal processes were completed, but there's scepticism around Westminster over whether it will ever take place.
In March, Mr Whittingdale said there wouldn't be a decision until all the criminal proceedings finished and the government has repeated that now.
But there's a suggestion too, put forward by privacy campaigners, that the government has gone soft on the real tightening of the rules on the press. At the end of last year Mr Whittingdale announced that papers could be protected from punitive damages in some cases.
And the recommendation of the Leveson Inquiry that papers be regulated under a Royal Charter hasn't happened, with papers forming their own regulatory body instead.
The newspapers would say things have changed since Leveson in any case, and it's nonsense to suggest it's back to business as usual pre-hacking.
But with this information about John Whittingdale now out in the public domain, Labour is suggesting that he cannot possibly be in charge of press relegation and should step aside from this part of his job - because he is vulnerable to pressure from the press.
There is no sense right now this will happen. Sources in government suggest it would be ludicrous to suggest he should be held responsible for the fact that newspapers decided not to publish a story about his private life. And it's also important to note that John Whittingdale as a political character would always have been likely to go for light touch regulation in any case.
It's also highly likely that there will be a reshuffle in the aftermath of the EU referendum, if the political calculation turns out to be that Mr Whittingdale should be moved.
But this is certainly the kind of headache that the government could do without, and it's the kind of story, involving politicians, the papers, and sex, that could well take an unpredictable turn.


An ashram in northern India has seen pitched battles between thousands of supporters of a controversial Hindu guru and police trying to arrest their leader - but many are now trickling out, writes Atish Patel in Barwala town.

As you approach the vast Satlok Ashram in Barwala, in Haryana state, it is hard to miss the thick, beautiful mist shrouded around the trees and crops in the distance.
But edging closer you will see vehicles lying abandoned on the side of the road with their windows smashed and others tipped over.
There is one road that leads to the ashram and that has now been blocked by the police.
The vehicles were used by the guru's supporters to form a barricade outside the ashram's main gate and police had to use bulldozers to get past them.
On Tuesday, stone-throwing supporters of the self-styled guru, known as Rampal, fought pitched battles with police here.
On Wednesday, police officers, dressed in riot gear and equipped with shields, were spread out across the farmland that surrounds the sprawling ashram.
The ground in front is littered with polythene bags, discarded clothes, papers, steel tumblers and even shoes - all testimony to the violence that has unfolded here.
Police say they believe Rampal is hiding somewhere in the imposing fortress-like ashram.
They want to arrest the 63-year-old guru who is on bail after being accused in a 2006 murder case. He faces contempt charges after failing to appear in court several times.
His followers have come from across India. Thousands are reported to still be inside the ashram to offer him protection and prevent his arrest, but slowly, many, fearing for their lives, are leaving.
Among them is Manoj Gothwal who travelled to the ashram from the western state of Gujarat with his sister, brother-in-law and nephew.
Mr Gothwal decided to make the visit to attend a series of spiritual classes led by Rampal.
"He [Rampal] says everyone is a good person and everyone is equal and we should respect all. That's something I liked about his teachings," he said.
But as the situation at the ashram worsened with police closing in and a dwindling supply of food, Mr Gothwal and his family decided they wanted to leave. He made it out early Wednesday morning.
"We were scared for our lives when the police attacked yesterday [Tuesday] with tear gas," he said.
"People in the ashram were lying on the floor and children were crying. And I was asking myself, 'Will I live or die?'," he added.
I ask Mr Gothwal, who has been a Rampal devotee for about a year, if he plans to continue to be a Rampal follower.
"It's hard to tell right now," he says, but adds that his goal was to come to the ashram "for knowledge and to become a better person. And that's been achieved".
On Wednesday, as more devotees were driven away in police trucks from the ashram, locals in Barwala town clapped and cheered on the streets.
Rampal is not a popular figure in the town.
Krishna Kumar, a restaurant owner in the town, compares the guru to al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
"He's like Bin Laden, using violence in god's name," he said.
Others agree and say that unlike other spiritual leaders in India, he has done nothing for the local community.
"He's a thug. He's done nothing for us," said farmer Banaram, who goes by one name and has land neighbouring Rampal's huge compound.


There has been a 30% increase in the number of children in Wales prescribed antidepressants over 10 years, figures obtained by the BBC have shown.

Swansea University analysed data from nearly 360,000 children aged between six and 18 between 2003 and 2013.
It followed a health warning in 2003 that children should not be given most antidepressants.
The unpublished research triggered a Welsh government circular saying other methods should be tried first.
The 30% rise came despite a significant fall in 2003-4 following health warnings about the risk of suicide in young people.
The report, which has not been published, also showed the drug citalopram was routinely prescribed despite not being licensed for use in children.
The Welsh government wrote to health professionals that only fluoxetine (Prozac) has been shown to be effective in young people.
A Welsh government spokesman said it expected GPs to use their clinical judgment in deciding treatment, and to use NICE guidelines which recommend psychosocial interventions should be considered as an alternative to antidepressants.
The report said the figures could reflect better access to treatment, and a positive shift towards helping people address mental health issues at a younger age.
But it added: "On the other hand this may represent an increasing tendency to prescribe medication where other treatment options such as psychological therapies are limited or not available at a primary care level.
"This may be a particular issue in more deprived areas where incidence is nearly double that in more affluent areas."
It comes as research has shown a 54% increase in the number of children and young people prescribed antidepressants in the UK between 2005 and 2012.
George Watkins, 20, from Cardiff, experienced side-effects after being prescribed antidepressants as a teenager.
"I would open my eyes in the morning, I still get nightmares about this, about waking up every morning staring at the ceiling and wondering if this was the day when I would feel clear-headed.
"It was a very rushed appointment, it was five minutes, 'describe what you're feeling'.
"I was still on the medication that I was prescribed when I was 14 or 15 last November, when I had just turned 20," he said.
Children's Commissioner for Wales Sally Holland told BBC Wales the long-term effects of anti-depressant drugs in children were not really known.
"NICE guidelines are very clear: children and young people must have medication as a last resort," she said.
"There should be a month of careful watchfulness and then they should be offered psychological therapies and they should only be offered medication along side psychological therapies if the therapy doesn't work.
"It seems sad to me that George hasn't had that."


New CCTV footage of missing landscape architect Joanna Yeates has been released by police.

The short video shows Miss Yeates, 25, from Bristol, buying a pizza at a Tesco Express store near her home in Clifton on the night she was last seen.
It is believed she returned home, but no trace has been found of the pizza or its wrapping and police say its whereabouts could provide a vital clue.
Miss Yeates has not been seen since 17 December.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "The video has been released by detectives hoping people in the area at the time will remember seeing Joanna and contact the police."
CCTV of Miss Yeates at the Waitrose store in The Triangle on the night she disappeared has already been released.
Miss Yeates' parents, who live in Hampshire, have said they fear she has been abducted and could be dead.
However, Ch Supt Jon Stratford said there was "nothing to suggest she has come to any harm".
Specialist teams continue to search areas around the Clifton Downs and Avon Gorge for the missing woman.
Miss Yeates' family are taking part in a vigil for her at a church in Bristol later.
Worshippers at Christ Church in Clifton will be saying prayers for Joanna and her family are due to attend midnight mass.
Miss Yeates is thought to have returned to the flat she shares with her 27-year-old boyfriend Greg Reardon, but it is not known what happened next.
Her keys, mobile phone, purse and coat had been left behind.
Mr Reardon reported her missing to police on Sunday when he returned from a weekend visiting family in Sheffield.
Reverend Paul Langham, from Christ Church, said: "At all our services over the next couple of days we will be remembering the family in prayer and particularly at the midnight service we will be having a vigil as part of that service.
"Beyond that, obviously there may be people who have ongoing need for somebody to talk with and we are one of the places that people might feel able to come."
He said the doors would be open for anyone who wanted to light a candle or say prayers for Ms Yeates.
Her brother Chris has been handing out leaflets and putting up posters around Bristol in the hope of someone coming forward with new information.
He said: "We are just in complete despair about where she is and how everything happened. We just don't know."
Ch Supt Stratford, of Avon and Somerset Police, said there were 70 police officers and staff working on the case.
"We are not going to let Christmas get in the way of this (investigation)," he said.
Her father David Yeates said on Thursday that he thought she had been abducted after getting home to her flat.
Police officers and mountain rescue teams spent much of Wednesday scouring cliffs and woodland around the Avon Gorge.
In a message to his daughter, Mr Yeates said: "Please come home Jo. Our hearts are breaking up with not having our little girl with us. Greg is going through hell.
"Please contact us, we don't know what to do without you.
"If she's dead, please tell somebody where she is. We want her back whatever."


Two of Jeremy Corbyn's key allies have not been selected for parliamentary seats under a fast-track process.

His political secretary Katy Clark - a former MP - pulled out of the contest for Leigh, the seat Andy Burnham is vacating, at the eleventh hour.
A local councillor close to Mr Burnham, Jo Platt, received the nomination.
Sam Tarry - a key figure in Mr Corbyn's second leadership campaign - was also passed over for Hull West and Hessle, vacated by Alan Johnson.
Mr Corbyn's former speechwriter David Prescott - the son of Lord Prescott - was also not selected for the seat.
The chairman of the local Labour party in Leigh, Wigan council leader Lord Smith, had threatened to relinquish his post in protest if Ms Clark had been "parachuted" in to the constituency.
These nominations could have significance beyond the next election.
If Jeremy Corbyn were to decide to stand down before 2022, a left wing successor would need 15% of MPs and MEPs to get on the ballot to replace him.
At the moment, someone with similar politics to Mr Corbyn would struggle to get that backing.
But with 13 Labour MPs retiring so far, had Mr Corbyn got his allies into most of those seats, the balance could have been tipped more in favour of his wing of the party.
Seven members of Labour's governing National Executive Committee, rather than local constituency parties, have been carrying out the selections in what are mostly regarded as "safe" seats since Wednesday.
Those with links either to the Unite or GMB unions make up the majority.
Usually, three of the seven have been involved in each selection and it had been assumed a deal would have been struck to get some of the party leader's picks in place.
But independently minded, left-wing NEC member Ann Black was also involved in the process and is unlikely to have been open to union or leadership pressure.
Those closer to the party's deputy leader Tom Watson seem to have fared better than prominent leadership supporters - for example, union activist Steph Peacock was chosen in Barnsley to replace leadership critic Michael Dugher.
He has tweeted his approval at the choice.
Ellie Reeves - sister of MP Rachel - saw off left-wing Momentum activists to be selected for the London seat of Lewisham West and Penge.
That's not to say there aren't Jeremy Corbyn supporters amongst the new crop though.
Laura Pidcock, in North West Durham, is seen as firmly on the left, for example.
But as one Labour insider put it: "These are not leadership place men and women.
"For all the talk of stitch-ups, in most seats the panel has chosen the best-placed candidate to win.
"Yes, many have strong trade union links, but many are also councillors and local campaigners."
And in many cases, women have been replacing men who have been standing down.
I understand one of the questions candidates were asked was about what they had done for local people in the area they hoped to represent, and this may have counted against those competing from outside.
One so-called "safe" seat remains to be settled.
Steve Rotheram - an MP close to Mr Corbyn - was expected to stand down in Liverpool Walton, as he has been selected as the Labour candidate for the new post of metro Mayor on Merseyside.
The seat is being eyed up by Dan Carden, who is close to Unite general secretary Len McCluskey.
But Mr Rotheram is said to be reluctant to go unless a local candidate - very possibly the current Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson - is given the nod, and the impasse hasn't been broken.
So, if there is to be a left wing successor to Mr Corbyn, perhaps the best opportunity will come not as a result of new left MPs being returned to Parliament, but at this year's party conference.
It will debate whether there should be a change to the leadership rules to make it easier for those close to the current leader to get on the ballot.
It would be surprising - whatever the outcome of the election - for Mr Corbyn to stand down before that issue is resolved.
The website will list all parliamentary candidates when nominations close


Two people have been rescued from the Bristol Channel after they were found clinging to a derelict pier, screaming for help.

The pair, from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, were pulled from the water at Birnbeck Pier near Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday afternoon.
The RNLI said the "very rapidly" flowing water could have put them in "serious danger".
Helmsman Terry Wells advised the public not to swim in the channel.
He said: "The crew warned the couple not to move in case they lost their footing when they would be carried away by the tide.
"Although it is very hot we do not advise swimming in the Bristol Channel unless you keep well in to the beach or you know the waters very well."


A politician has been given permission to introduce a private member's bill to reform the way in which members of the Manx Legislative Council are elected.

It could see members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) elected directly by the Manx public, the same as Members of the House of Keys (MHKs), from 2018.
Council members are currently appointed by the House of Keys.
Politicians voted almost unanimously in favour of granting Onchan MHK Peter Karran permission to pursue his bill.
Several attempts have already been made to reform the Legislative Council but none have been successful.
The Legislative Council is the upper branch of the Manx parliament.
The Council, which primarily acts as a revising chamber for bills, includes eight elected members, the President of Tynwald, the Bishop of Sodor and Man and the Attorney General.
Mr Karran's proposed bill could also see MLCs banned from becoming ministers or members of government departments.
A special sitting of the House of Keys will be held next month to elect replacements for the four seats on the Council which become vacant on Saturday.


Montrose staged a superb second-half comeback to come from two goals to beat East Stirling.

Goals from Kris Faulds and Thomas Orr looked to have set East Stirling on course for victory.
However Graham Webster and Greg Pascazio hit back to pull Montrose level.
Aaron Comrie completed the comeback with just over five minutes to go with a powerful strike into the roof of the net to seal the win.


Police are appealing for five witnesses to come forward after a young woman was sexually assaulted in Castle Douglas on Friday night.

The 21-year-old was walking in the town's Church Street at about 22:00 when she was attacked from behind.
The attacker then pulled the woman into a doorway before sexually assaulting her.
She managed to fight the man off, before seeking help and contacting the police.
The suspect was described as white, bald, aged between 30 and 40, around 5ft 7in in height, with a medium build and stubble.
He was wearing a royal blue hooded top - with the hood down - which had white tassels attached and blue denim jeans.
Officers reviewed CCTV images, with inquiries revealing a group of four people and a person with a dog walking along King Street at the time of the incident.
The four people were carrying umbrellas and crossed the road at the junction of King Street and Church Street, continuing along King Street.
The dog walker also continued along King Street.
Police believe the five may have significant information.
Det Sgt Stephen Bell said: "A young woman has been left extremely distressed by this ordeal.
"She was very brave and fought her attacker off but it is imperative we trace the man responsible.
"I would appeal, particularly to the five people who were seen in the area at that time, and to anyone else who was in the vicinity to get in touch with us.
"It's possible you saw the suspect and thought nothing of it at the time, but if you were in the area or you have any knowledge of the suspect or crime, please do contact us."