Chuka Umunna Backs Liz Kendall For Leader

Former Labour leadership favourite Chuka Umunna has backed Liz Kendall, saying she could move the party "beyond our comfort zone".

Mr Umunna, who announced his own bid for leadership earlier this month only to withdraw it days later , has endorsed Ms Kendall by praising her for her courage in "challenging conventional wisdom".

Writing in the New Statesman, the shadow business secretary said: "For us, our next leader must get this vision right.

"On all these big subjects, Liz Kendall has asked the tough questions and started to chart a course to the answers.

"She has been courageous in challenging conventional wisdom.

"She has no compunction in moving Labour beyond our comfort zone and is determined to build a team ready to chart a route forward."

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Mr Umunna's support comes after shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt ended speculation he would run for leadership last week and also backed Ms Kendall.

Announcing he would not run , Mr Hunt said it had become clear support had coalesced around two leadership candidates within five days of Ed Miliband's resignation, the day after the election.

Mr Hunt said rather than split support he decided to back "Blairite" Ms Kendall saying she was ideal leadership material and "open to the big challenges facing the country".

The shadow care minister has also won the backing of another Labour rising star, the shadow communities secretary Emma Reynolds.

Labour's leadership challenge has been hit by rows over the union-backing of Andy Burnham and claims of bullying in the aftermath of a dismal election for the party.

The leadership contest has already become characterised as a battle between the so-called "Blairites" including Mr Hunt, Ms Kendall and Mary Creagh, the shadow international development secretary, and the "Brownites" represented by Mr Burnham and Yvette Cooper.

Mr Burnham, the only man in the contest, is emerging as the favourite and is building a strong team around him.

Party co-chairman and shadow transport secretary Michael Dugher is his campaign manager and shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves his economic lead.

Dan Jarvis, who was also named as a possible leadership contender, has also backed the shadow health secretary.

Speaking on Monday, Labour grandee Lord Prescott said the contest was being played out too quickly and did not allow proper discussion of the party's future after the dismal election performance.

He told the Today programme: "Unfortunately I don't think there is enough time for that debate in the timetable we have got at the moment and therefore, to that extent, it is limiting the debate when it should be even more than that."

The party leadership with be decided on 12 September.