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Labour leadership: Gordon Brown speaking on party contest Labour leadership: Gordon Brown says party must be credible
(35 minutes later)
Gordon Brown says Labour has to become "credible" and "electable" once again in order to change people's lives.Gordon Brown says Labour has to become "credible" and "electable" once again in order to change people's lives.
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."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."
But he said it was "not an abandonment of principles to seek power".But he said it was "not an abandonment of principles to seek power".
The leadership candidates are Jeremy Corbyn, 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. Mr Brown's comments come as a poll suggests left-wing candidate 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. Corbyn question
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'
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 came after his predecessor at Number 10, Tony Blair, warned that Labour risks annihilation if it elects Mr Corbyn.
Analysis: Alex Forsyth, political correspondent, BBC News Mr Brown did not use Mr Corbyn's name but made it clear he disagreed with many of his economic and social policies.
Those following Labour's leadership contest have been awaiting Gordon Brown's view with interest. He referred repeatedly to the need to become more than a party of protest - a criticism that has been levelled at the left-wing candidate.
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 also said the UK must continue to build international alliances under a future Labour government.
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. He said making alliances with organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah, or leaders like Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin would undermine that effort - a reference to questions Mr Corbyn has faced over his views on those groups and individuals.
And given that his supporters believe he represents a new politics, they may not heed such criticism from established politicians. 'In turmoil'
Mr Brown said Labour was "grieving" following the general election defeat.
"We are grieving and it hurts. And I'm not here to attack any individual candidate. And I'm not here to say abandon your high ideals," he continued.
"What I am here to say is that the best way of realising our high ideals is to show that we have an alternative in government that is credible, that is radical, and is electable - is neither a pale imitation of what the Tories offer nor is it the route to being a party of permanent protest, rather than a party of government."
The former PM went on: "It is not a mistake to want power. It is not a mistake to do what is necessary to get back to power."
He acknowledged that many people viewed Labour as a party "in turmoil", but the answer was not to become a party of protest and demonstration.
"We can't just be an anti-globalisation party. We can't just say we don't like what's happening... we can't just return to the policies of the past."
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.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.
Conversely though, 21% thought Mr Corbyn would be most likely to boost Labour's chances of winning the next election.Conversely though, 21% thought Mr Corbyn would be most likely to boost Labour's chances of winning the next election.
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 Corbyn, meanwhile, has promised to "stand up" for businesses who "want to cooperate and innovate for the public good".
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."