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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Kinnock backs Ed Miliband in race | Kinnock backs Ed Miliband in race |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lord Kinnock has publicly endorsed Ed Miliband in his campaign to become the next Labour leader. | Lord Kinnock has publicly endorsed Ed Miliband in his campaign to become the next Labour leader. |
| In an interview with the Observer, he describes the former energy secretary as having the electoral "X-factor" and "the capacity to inspire people". | In an interview with the Observer, he describes the former energy secretary as having the electoral "X-factor" and "the capacity to inspire people". |
| Six candidates say they plan to stand, with a winner announced in September. | Six candidates say they plan to stand, with a winner announced in September. |
| Ex-health secretary Andy Burnham said he was proud to be a "continuity candidate", although he believed the party had "lost its way" in some areas. | Ex-health secretary Andy Burnham said he was proud to be a "continuity candidate", although he believed the party had "lost its way" in some areas. |
| And backbencher Diane Abbott said she believed she was "on track" to get the 33 nominations from MPs needed to take part in the contest. | And backbencher Diane Abbott said she believed she was "on track" to get the 33 nominations from MPs needed to take part in the contest. |
| The result of the election, Labour's first contested leadership race since 1994, will be announced on 25 September, the first day of its conference. | The result of the election, Labour's first contested leadership race since 1994, will be announced on 25 September, the first day of its conference. |
| 'Strong values' | 'Strong values' |
| In the Observer interview, Lord Kinnock - Labour leader between 1983 and 1992 - said Ed Miliband had "strong values and an ability to "lift" people. | In the Observer interview, Lord Kinnock - Labour leader between 1983 and 1992 - said Ed Miliband had "strong values and an ability to "lift" people. |
| He said: "Ed [Miliband] is very bright, including politically bright. He is hugely energetic. He is fluent. | He said: "Ed [Miliband] is very bright, including politically bright. He is hugely energetic. He is fluent. |
| "He has got the capacity to inspire people, which we need. And that marks him out as a special kind of young potential leader. | "He has got the capacity to inspire people, which we need. And that marks him out as a special kind of young potential leader. |
| We really do need a leader who can reach out for the rebuilding of the Labour party, but particularly to give coherence to our thinking Lord Kinnock Labour election: runners and riders | We really do need a leader who can reach out for the rebuilding of the Labour party, but particularly to give coherence to our thinking Lord Kinnock Labour election: runners and riders |
| Mr Miliband "has got the X-Factor, especially where the X is the sign you put on the voting slip at election time," he added. | Mr Miliband "has got the X-Factor, especially where the X is the sign you put on the voting slip at election time," he added. |
| "And vitally, absolutely vitally, he is comfortable among people of every kind, young and old, men and women, inside and outside the movement. | "And vitally, absolutely vitally, he is comfortable among people of every kind, young and old, men and women, inside and outside the movement. |
| "We really do need a leader who can reach out for the rebuilding of the Labour party, but particularly to give coherence to our thinking." | "We really do need a leader who can reach out for the rebuilding of the Labour party, but particularly to give coherence to our thinking." |
| Gordon Brown, who has been replaced by Harriet Harman until a new leader is elected, has said he will not publicly endorse any candidate. | Gordon Brown, who has been replaced by Harriet Harman until a new leader is elected, has said he will not publicly endorse any candidate. |
| Iraq issue | Iraq issue |
| The issue of the Iraq war has dominated the leadership debate in recent days after Mr Miliband and former children's secretary Ed Balls, who is also standing, criticised the decision to invade in 2003. | The issue of the Iraq war has dominated the leadership debate in recent days after Mr Miliband and former children's secretary Ed Balls, who is also standing, criticised the decision to invade in 2003. |
| Mr Balls said the war was "wrong" while Mr Miliband said it had led to a "big loss of trust" in Labour. | Mr Balls said the war was "wrong" while Mr Miliband said it had led to a "big loss of trust" in Labour. |
| Former foreign secretary David Miliband, tipped as the front runner to succeed Mr Brown, has previously urged party members not to make the Iraq war an issue, saying it was "time to move on". | Former foreign secretary David Miliband, tipped as the front runner to succeed Mr Brown, has previously urged party members not to make the Iraq war an issue, saying it was "time to move on". |
| Rival candidate John McDonnell said the "road to Damascus conversion" over Iraq was far too late and opportunistic. | Rival candidate John McDonnell said the "road to Damascus conversion" over Iraq was far too late and opportunistic. |
| Neither Mr Balls nor Ed Miliband were MPs when the decision to invade Iraq was made. David Miliband was an MP then and voted for the invasion. | Neither Mr Balls nor Ed Miliband were MPs when the decision to invade Iraq was made. David Miliband was an MP then and voted for the invasion. |
| Asked himself about the war, Mr Burnham told the Andrew Marr programme he did "not back away" from his own support for the decision. | Asked himself about the war, Mr Burnham told the Andrew Marr programme he did "not back away" from his own support for the decision. |
| "I think it gave 20 million people in Iraq hope of a better life," he said. "You cannot walk away from that truth." | "I think it gave 20 million people in Iraq hope of a better life," he said. "You cannot walk away from that truth." |
| 'In denial' | 'In denial' |
| In general, Mr Burnham said he would not "disown" any decisions taken by Labour and was "proud" to be associated with its record. | In general, Mr Burnham said he would not "disown" any decisions taken by Labour and was "proud" to be associated with its record. |
| Andy Burnham on immigration and seeking the leadership | |
| But he said there was a "perception" the party had not listened to concerns about immigration and housing and was not "on the side" of its core supporters. | But he said there was a "perception" the party had not listened to concerns about immigration and housing and was not "on the side" of its core supporters. |
| "Some people felt we were either in denial [about immigration] or did not want to talk about it," he said. | "Some people felt we were either in denial [about immigration] or did not want to talk about it," he said. |
| The party had also failed to articulate concerns over "very excessive" wealth, adding: "I don't think Labour can ever be in that position where we don't have views about wealth at the very highest levels." | The party had also failed to articulate concerns over "very excessive" wealth, adding: "I don't think Labour can ever be in that position where we don't have views about wealth at the very highest levels." |
| Diane Abbott said it was "dangerous" for anyone to be "appearing to collude in scapegoating immigrants in a recession". | Diane Abbott said it was "dangerous" for anyone to be "appearing to collude in scapegoating immigrants in a recession". |
| Mrs Abbott, the UK's first female black MP, said she was standing because it was a "pivotal moment" for Labour and the choice of candidates must be representative of the party in the 21st Century. | Mrs Abbott, the UK's first female black MP, said she was standing because it was a "pivotal moment" for Labour and the choice of candidates must be representative of the party in the 21st Century. |
| "The [other] candidates could have run in the 1950s," she told Sky News. | "The [other] candidates could have run in the 1950s," she told Sky News. |