Dubai: The first hurdle in the race for Labour party leadership has seen David Miliband garner significant support from the shadow cabinet.
David, Shadow Foreign Secretary, has nominations from Ben Bradshaw, shadow secretary for culture, media, sport and the Olympics; Alistair Darling, shadow chancellor of the exchequer; and Alan Johnson, shadow home secretary.
Other notable nominations have come from general election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander who has been in office for seven years; Margaret Hodge, the first ever Minister for Children and previously Minister for Culture and Tourism; Valerie Vaz, a lawmaker whose brother Keith also holds a Labour seat; and Bridget Phillipson, slated as one of the youngest MPs ever, at 26 years old.
Contenders
There are three serious contenders for the leadership position — brothers David and Ed Miliband, shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change; and Ed Balls, shadow secretary of state for education.
Balls also has significant nominators. Two of his nominations have come from Yvette Cooper, shadow secretary of state for work and pensions; and Andrew Smith, former secretary of state for work and pensions and former chief secretary to the Treasury.
Andy Burnham has two significant nominations, although the number in general is significantly lacking in comparison to the Miliband brothers.
Burnham has nominations from Hazel Blears, previous secretary of state for Communities and Local Government and previous Labour Party chair; and David Blunkett, the first registered disabled cabinet member, former secretary of state for work and pensions, former home secretary, former secretary of state for education and employment.
Despite these heavy-weight MPs backing Burnham, his nominations are lacking and he has not yet gained the number needed to run for Labour leader.
Diane Abbott, MP, the first black woman appointed to the House of Commons; and John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, also have not received enough nominations to run for leader.
Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) nominations close today, and balloting will take place between August 16 and September 22.
Only on September 25 will the new leader of the Labour party be announced.
