Labour list is too narrow - Heyes

Nobody gets my backing, says MP

Ashton MP David Heyes is not going to nominate any candidate to be the next leader of the Labour Party.

Six candidates have declared they wish to stand and must now secure the support of 33 MPs to get their name on the ballot paper. So far David Miliband with 55 backers and his younger brother, Ed (45 nominations), along with Ed Balls (33 votes) have secured the necessary backing.

Latest figures show that shadow health minister Andy Burnham has 17 backers, left-wing backbencher John McDonnell has six, and rebel MP Diane Abbott has one.

The hopefuls have until June 9 to secure the necessary support before the Parliamentary Labour Party nominations close.

Mr Heyes whose constituency includes Failsworth, said: “I have thought long and hard about it and my preference would have been to have a good slate of candidates, left and right of the party, but I have not seen that with the candidates. Therefore I am not going to support any of them with a nomination.

“I am sure that any one of them would make a great leader of the Labour Party, but we need a wide-ranging debate and I fear we are not going to get that.

“I think any of them would lead the Labour Party to victory at the next election.”

In June and July, the successful candidates will take part in hustings across the country to try to secure backing from Labour Party members.

The successful candidate will be crowned on September 25 as the party’s annual conference gets under way.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas is supporting David Miliband, while Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher has yet to decide who he is nominating or supporting.