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Labour membership rises after election defeat Labour leadership: Brown and Blair endorse Ian Murray's deputy bid
(about 7 hours later)
The Labour Party's membership has gone up by 114,000 since its defeat in December's general election. Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have thrown their weight behind Ian Murray's bid to become Labour's deputy leader.
The figure was confirmed to the party's National Executive Committee on Tuesday as it readies itself for a new leader. He is trailing behind rivals, including Angela Rayner, in terms of support from unions and local parties.
Sir Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry are still in the running to replace Jeremy Corbyn. But Labour's last two prime ministers have endorsed his call for a complete "change in direction" for the party,
Another 14,700 people have paid £25 to be "registered supporters", allowing them to vote for his successor. Mr Blair said Labour's only Scottish MP was making a "strong argument", while Mr Brown said he was inspired by his commitment to science and innovation.
The new leader and deputy leader will be announced on 4 April. To make it onto the final ballot, the five deputy leadership candidates need the backing of two unions and one affiliate group - representing at least 5% of the membership - or nominations from 33 constituency Labour parties (CLPs).
To make it onto the final ballot, candidates need the backing of two unions and one affiliate group - representing at least 5% of the membership - or nominations from 33 constituency Labour parties. So far, Ms Rayner is the only candidate to have done so, having got the backing of the Unison, GMB and Usdaw unions.
Only the shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir, and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, have passed this hurdle so far. The other candidates - Mr Murray, shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler, Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan and shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon - have until 14 February to pass this threshold.
However, the shadow business secretary, Mrs Long-Bailey, has the backing of the Unite union and 24 CLPs, while the shadow foreign secretary, Ms Thornberry, has four CLPs behind her. Mr Burgon is closest, with two unions - Unite and BFAWU - in his corner.
Both contenders have until 14 February to garner the support. It emerged on Tuesday that Labour's membership has gone up by 114,000 since its defeat in December's general election.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner is the only deputy leadership candidate to have made it onto the ballot so far, with the support of four unions and 41 CLPs. Another 14,700 people have paid £25 to be "registered supporters", allowing them to vote in the leadership and deputy leadership ballots, the result of which will be announced on 4 April.
The other candidates running for the position are Scotland's only remaining Labour MP Ian Murray, shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler, Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan and shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon. 'Different face'
Mr Murray has been the most critical of the candidates of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and Labour's election campaign. Others have suggested its defeat was down to poor communication and strategy - and the Brexit factor - rather than its policies and personnel.
In an article for the Times' Red Box, he said activists should not vote for him if they thought the party "won the argument" at the election.
"We can't just continue with a different voice and a different face; we need to change direction too," he wrote.
In response, Mr Blair - who won three general elections as leader - called on people to listen to what Mr Murray had to say.
In the past few days, Mr Murray has won the backing of the Labour Movement for Europe and Scientists for Labour, of whom Mr Brown is a patron. Mr Brown said he was proud to back his fellow Scot to succeed Tom Watson as deputy leader.
"I know Ian Murray to have been committed to and directly involved in supporting investment in science in our country," he said.
"I think that as a candidate whom I support for the deputy leadership he can ensure that the next Labour manifesto will give the priority to science and innovation that scientists deserve and is the best way forward for our country."
Mr Murray welcomed the duo's support, saying the governments they led between 1997 and 2010 had been "transformational" and they had changed the country by first changing Labour.
"The only way to get Labour back into power is to change our party once again," he said. "If members are happy with remaining in opposition and want more of the same, they shouldn't vote for me - they should vote for a continuity candidate.
Both Mr Blair and Mr Brown have, so far, declined to be drawn on who they are backing to be leader. Only shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy have made it on to the ballot so far.
Shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, has the backing of the Unite union and 24 CLPs, while the shadow foreign secretary, Ms Thornberry, has four CLPs behind her.