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Labour leadership: Gordon Brown to speak on party contest Labour leadership: Gordon Brown speaking on party contest
(34 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is to intervene in Labour's leadership race for the first time, saying the party needs credible economic policies to win power. Gordon Brown says Labour has to become "credible" and "electable" once again in order to change people's lives.
He is also expected to say he strongly disagrees with many of Jeremy Corbyn's economic and foreign policies. Intervening for the first time in the party's leadership race, he said he was "not here to attack any individual candidate" or to tell anyone to abandon their "high ideals."
His comments come as a poll suggests Mr Corbyn is considered the candidate most likely to worsen Labour's prospects of winning the next election. But he said it was "not an abandonment of principles to seek power".
The other leader candidates are Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Andy Burnham. The leadership candidates are Jeremy Corbyn, Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Andy Burnham.
Mr Brown's comments come as a poll suggests Jeremy Corbyn is considered the candidate most likely to worsen Labour's prospects of winning the next election.
He is expected to say he disagrees with many of Mr Corbyn's economic and foreign policies.
The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins says he understands the former prime minister will not endorse any particular candidate - although he is thought to believe Ms Cooper is the best choice.The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins says he understands the former prime minister will not endorse any particular candidate - although he is thought to believe Ms Cooper is the best choice.
'More conciliatory''More conciliatory'
Voting has now opened in the contest to replace former party leader Ed Miliband.Voting has now opened in the contest to replace former party leader Ed Miliband.
Mr Brown's address - on the theme of "power for a purpose" - comes after his predecessor at Number 10, Tony Blair, warned that Labour risks annihilation if it elects Mr Corbyn - currently seen as the front-runner.Mr Brown's address - on the theme of "power for a purpose" - comes after his predecessor at Number 10, Tony Blair, warned that Labour risks annihilation if it elects Mr Corbyn - currently seen as the front-runner.
Paul Sinclair, a former adviser to Mr Brown, told the BBC: "I think he'll be a little bit more conciliatory than Tony Blair has been, but no less unequivocal."
Analysis: Alex Forsyth, political correspondent, BBC NewsAnalysis: Alex Forsyth, political correspondent, BBC News
Those following Labour's leadership contest have been awaiting Gordon Brown's view with interest.Those following Labour's leadership contest have been awaiting Gordon Brown's view with interest.
The former prime minister has form on powerful interventions. During the Scottish referendum he delivered a tub-thumbing speech in the final week, much credited with boosting the pro-union campaign.The former prime minister has form on powerful interventions. During the Scottish referendum he delivered a tub-thumbing speech in the final week, much credited with boosting the pro-union campaign.
Today he may stop short of criticising individual candidates, but his message will undoubtedly be interpreted in light of the continued popularity of Jeremy Corbyn. So far warnings about his possible victory from Labour's big beasts, including Tony Blair, Alistair Campbell and Alan Johnson, don't seem to have dented his campaign.Today he may stop short of criticising individual candidates, but his message will undoubtedly be interpreted in light of the continued popularity of Jeremy Corbyn. So far warnings about his possible victory from Labour's big beasts, including Tony Blair, Alistair Campbell and Alan Johnson, don't seem to have dented his campaign.
And given that his supporters believe he represents a new politics, they may not heed such criticism from established politicians.And given that his supporters believe he represents a new politics, they may not heed such criticism from established politicians.
A ComRes study of 2,035 adults in Britain, for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror, found 31% of those polled thought Mr Corbyn would worsen Labour's prospects of electoral success. A ComRes study of 2,035 adults in Britain, for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror, found 31% of those polled thought Mr Corbyn would worsen Labour's prospects of electoral success. Mr Burnham was the poll's least damaging candidate.
Ms Cooper was rated as 18%, Ms Kendall as 17% and Mr Burnham as 14% - making him the poll's least damaging candidate. Conversely though, 21% thought Mr Corbyn would be most likely to boost Labour's chances of winning the next election.
Conversely, 21% thought Mr Corbyn would be most likely to boost Labour's chances of winning the next election, while Mr Burnham polled 19%, Ms Cooper 15% and Ms Kendall 11%.
None of the candidates, though, proved as popular in the poll as former foreign secretary David Miliband, who was defeated by his brother Ed at the last Labour leadership contest.
Labour leadership contestLabour leadership contest
Mr Brown's speech comes as Mr Burnham claimed he was the only candidate capable of blocking Mr Corbyn and preventing a split within the party.Mr Brown's speech comes as Mr Burnham claimed he was the only candidate capable of blocking Mr Corbyn and preventing a split within the party.
He told the Sunday People: "In the 80s, we started fighting each other and left the way clear for Margaret Thatcher to bulldoze her way through Labour communities. Mr Corbyn, meanwhile, has promised to "stand up" for businesses who "want to cooperate and innovate for the public good".
"I'm not going to let that happen this time."
Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn has promised to "stand up" for businesses who "want to cooperate and innovate for the public good".
He told the Observer: "The current government seems to think 'pro-business' means giving a green light to corporate tax avoiders and private monopolies."
Ms Cooper has criticised some of Mr Corbyn's anti-austerity policies, telling the Sunday Mirror: "I don't think the answer is what Jeremy has proposed, which is basically printing money that we haven't got to build things."Ms Cooper has criticised some of Mr Corbyn's anti-austerity policies, telling the Sunday Mirror: "I don't think the answer is what Jeremy has proposed, which is basically printing money that we haven't got to build things."
Ms Kendall told the BBC she also wanted "a radical Labour government", but added: "I want a credible Labour Party that can oppose the Tories and win elections."Ms Kendall told the BBC she also wanted "a radical Labour government", but added: "I want a credible Labour Party that can oppose the Tories and win elections."
Former Labour minister Kim Howells told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House programme the party was in "big trouble".
"I think we'll probably have at least one more Labour leadership election before the next general election," he said, "because if Jeremy Corbyn is elected then I'm afraid the other political parties are going to zero in on the more controversial parts of his beliefs and policies and they're going to rubbish them."