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Labour leadership contest: Burnham reaches out to Corbyn voters Labour leadership contest: David Miliband backs Kendall
(35 minutes later)
Andy Burnham has offered Labour leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn a role in the party if he wins the contest, as voting gets under way. Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he is backing Liz Kendall in the Labour leadership race.
Mr Burnham said only he could beat Mr Corbyn and unite the party - but he praised his opponent and said he shared many of his views. Mr Miliband is also the latest senior party figure to warn of the dangers of electing left-wing frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn.
Yvette Cooper said Mr Burnham should withdraw from the race if he is not prepared to oppose the left-winger. Fellow candidate Andy Burnham has said he would offer Mr Corbyn a role in the party if he wins the contest.
Meanwhile former MP David Miliband has said he supports Liz Kendall. But Yvette Cooper said Mr Burnham should withdraw from the race if he is not prepared to oppose the left-winger.
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Miliband - brother of former party leader Ed - said Mr Corbyn would take the party "backwards" and warned that the "angry defiance" of his campaign would lead only to electoral defeat.
He said he was backing Ms Kendall - who is on the right of the party - as leader, but she herself has acknowledged that she is trailing in the polls.
Meanwhile Mr Burnham said only he could beat Mr Corbyn and unite the party - but he praised his opponent and said he shared many of his views.
Ms Cooper and Ms Kendall have both said they would not serve in a Jeremy Corbyn shadow cabinet, arguing that policies such as renationalising utilities and scrapping Trident were not credible.Ms Cooper and Ms Kendall have both said they would not serve in a Jeremy Corbyn shadow cabinet, arguing that policies such as renationalising utilities and scrapping Trident were not credible.
But Mr Burnham has tried to strike a more consensual tone, amid speculation he is going after the veteran left-winger's second preference votes.But Mr Burnham has tried to strike a more consensual tone, amid speculation he is going after the veteran left-winger's second preference votes.
Mr Corbyn said he welcomed Mr Burnham's "inclusive tone".Mr Corbyn said he welcomed Mr Burnham's "inclusive tone".
'Fighting each other''Fighting each other'
In a speech in Manchester, Mr Burnham said he shared a "good deal of common ground" with Mr Corbyn on issues such as transport and education, and would offer him a role in rebuilding the party.In a speech in Manchester, Mr Burnham said he shared a "good deal of common ground" with Mr Corbyn on issues such as transport and education, and would offer him a role in rebuilding the party.
But he criticised the Islington North MP's sceptical stance on the European Union and attacked his economic policies, which he said would "leave us open to losing the argument on the economy on day one".But he criticised the Islington North MP's sceptical stance on the European Union and attacked his economic policies, which he said would "leave us open to losing the argument on the economy on day one".
He added: "I won't let our party repeat the history of the early 1980s when we were more interested in fighting each other and we left the pitch clear for Margaret Thatcher to bulldoze her way through Labour communities up and down the country."He added: "I won't let our party repeat the history of the early 1980s when we were more interested in fighting each other and we left the pitch clear for Margaret Thatcher to bulldoze her way through Labour communities up and down the country."
He also told supporters he would oppose the government's controversial Welfare Bill if he wins the contest, saying he only abstained in a Commons vote on the issue - a move which attracted criticism from Mr Corbyn's supporters - to preserve party unity.He also told supporters he would oppose the government's controversial Welfare Bill if he wins the contest, saying he only abstained in a Commons vote on the issue - a move which attracted criticism from Mr Corbyn's supporters - to preserve party unity.
Mr Corbyn said he welcomed Mr Burnham's olive branch, saying: "The view is mutual - if we win we would involve Andy in our team if he was willing. From day one, whoever wins must pull the party together."Mr Corbyn said he welcomed Mr Burnham's olive branch, saying: "The view is mutual - if we win we would involve Andy in our team if he was willing. From day one, whoever wins must pull the party together."
Labour leadership contest
A spokesman for Ms Cooper's campaign said Mr Burnham was sending a confused message.A spokesman for Ms Cooper's campaign said Mr Burnham was sending a confused message.
"Andy needs to show some leadership and be clear whether he opposes Jeremy or not," he said."Andy needs to show some leadership and be clear whether he opposes Jeremy or not," he said.
"If he isn't prepared to offer an alternative to Jeremy, he needs to step back and leave it to Yvette.""If he isn't prepared to offer an alternative to Jeremy, he needs to step back and leave it to Yvette."
Ms Cooper and Ms Kendall have also rejected claims they considered quitting the contest and throwing their weight behind Mr Burnham in an effort to stop Mr Corbyn winning. Ms Cooper and Ms Kendall have rejected claims they considered quitting the contest and throwing their weight behind Mr Burnham in an effort to stop Mr Corbyn winning.
Labour leadership contest
Ms Kendall told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I have said obviously I want people to vote for me with their first preference but they should use their second and third preferences for Yvette or Andy."
Senior Labour figures fear the contest has been hijacked by hard left activists signing up to the party to vote for Mr Corbyn.Senior Labour figures fear the contest has been hijacked by hard left activists signing up to the party to vote for Mr Corbyn.
Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have both warned against voting for Mr Corbyn, with Mr Brown saying Labour must be "credible" and "electable".Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have both warned against voting for Mr Corbyn, with Mr Brown saying Labour must be "credible" and "electable".
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Miliband - brother of former party leader Ed - warned that Britain could become "a multiparty democracy with only one party - the Conservative Party - that can win parliamentary majorities".
"The Corbyn programme looks backwards," he wrote.
He added: "I have been struck since the beginning of the campaign by the plain speaking, fresh thinking and political courage of Liz Kendall."
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