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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ed Miliband gets Kinnock backing | Ed Miliband gets Kinnock backing |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ed Miliband has gained the backing of Lord Kinnock for his campaign to become the next Labour leader. | Ed Miliband has gained the backing of Lord Kinnock for his campaign to become the next Labour leader. |
| The former Labour leader endorsed Mr Miliband as the person best able to "relate and empathise" with the public. | The former Labour leader endorsed Mr Miliband as the person best able to "relate and empathise" with the public. |
| Although the contest is still in its early stages, the six contenders to succeed Gordon Brown have continued to stress their differences. | Although the contest is still in its early stages, the six contenders to succeed Gordon Brown have continued to stress their differences. |
| Ex-health secretary Andy Burnham said Labour had "lost its way" but stressed he was a "continuity candidate". | Ex-health secretary Andy Burnham said Labour had "lost its way" but stressed he was a "continuity candidate". |
| And after a Sunday Times poll gave backbencher Diane Abbott 9% of support - second only to frontrunner David Miliband - she said she was "on track" to get the 33 nominations from MPs needed to take part. | And after a Sunday Times poll gave backbencher Diane Abbott 9% of support - second only to frontrunner David Miliband - she said she was "on track" to get the 33 nominations from MPs needed to take part. |
| 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' |
| Lord Kinnock - Labour leader between 1983 and 1992 - told the BBC there was a "real breadth of talent" among the candidates but he believed Ed Miliband, the former energy and climate change secretary, stood out. | Lord Kinnock - Labour leader between 1983 and 1992 - told the BBC there was a "real breadth of talent" among the candidates but he believed Ed Miliband, the former energy and climate change secretary, stood out. |
| He has got the ability to inspire people, which is rare in politics Lord Kinnock Labour election: runners and riders | He has got the ability to inspire people, which is rare in politics Lord Kinnock Labour election: runners and riders |
| "I think Ed has got the additional quality of being able to relate to, contact, empathise with people," he told the BBC's Politics Show. | |
| "So that not only is he expressing the ideals, values, specifics of policy but they will understand him and they will relate to him. | "So that not only is he expressing the ideals, values, specifics of policy but they will understand him and they will relate to him. |
| "He has got the ability to inspire people, which is rare in politics." | "He has got the ability to inspire people, which is rare in politics." |
| In an earlier interview with the Observer, Lord Kinnock said that as well as having "strong values", Mr Miliband also possessed the "X-Factor" when it came to winning over new supporters. | In an earlier interview with the Observer, Lord Kinnock said that as well as having "strong values", Mr Miliband also possessed the "X-Factor" when it came to winning over new supporters. |
| Gordon Brown, who has been replaced by Harriet Harman until a new leader is elected, has said he will not publicly endorse any candidate, and it is not yet clear whether Tony Blair will back anyone. | Gordon Brown, who has been replaced by Harriet Harman until a new leader is elected, has said he will not publicly endorse any candidate, and it is not yet clear whether Tony Blair will back anyone. |
| 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. |
| Ex-foreign secretary David Miliband, a strong backer of the war, has urged party members not to make it an issue, saying it was "time to move on". | Ex-foreign secretary David Miliband, a strong backer of the war, has urged party members not to make it an issue, saying it was "time to move on". |
| Andy Burnham on immigration and seeking the leadership | Andy Burnham on immigration and seeking the leadership |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Separately, former deputy leader John Prescott has said he wants to become Labour's next party treasurer. | Separately, former deputy leader John Prescott has said he wants to become Labour's next party treasurer. |
| Mr Prescott, who stood down as an MP at the last election, said he still had plenty to contribute and wanted to be involved in increasing Labour's membership and putting the party on a "stable financial footing". | Mr Prescott, who stood down as an MP at the last election, said he still had plenty to contribute and wanted to be involved in increasing Labour's membership and putting the party on a "stable financial footing". |