The Labour Leader race is hotting up!

[ShadeofViolet]

So its not just going to be the Miliband show.

We now have 5 prospective leaders (Dianne Abbott, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham, David Miliband, Ed Miliband)

Who would get your vote?

Quattro - I agree about the importance of the Labour party choosing a strong leader: both in terms of providing good opposition and ultimately a credible PM candidate. Imo either Miliband may have the potential to do the job (don't have enough evidence to tell) but DM might be too much 'Blair's heir' for many in the party.

Having the left wing candidates (especially Abbott and McDonnell) standing should give Labour members the chance to debate what they really want from a Labour leader, and to decide if that includes winning the next general election for them.

So all fat people are fat because they can't resist a fry up?

Rosa and gillg, I'm with you - if McDonnell gets on the ballot paper I'll vote for him. If he doesn't and Abbott does... I'm surprised the bookies are only offering 150-1 though.

Three of us for McDonnell? That's not bad going. Better than the Ladbrokes odds!

Will Harriet H be Labour's Vince Cable (much hailed acting leader) or will she be persuaded to stand? She is a good performer. If Labour had a strong, electable woman then that would be one way of distinguishing itself from the LibCon (or ConLib).

(a working father in the playground with children is 'taking the kids off his wife's hands for a bit to give her a break'?? i disagree)

in my heart of hearts I think that anyone who decides their child needs to go to private school should probably think more than twice about their membership of the Labour party, or alternatively should aim to get the party to do a root-and-branch teardown of its educational thinking

labour public policy naturally doesn't say anything about abolishing independent schools but i would bet it's quite a common view in the party; i think DA would show maximum bravery by debating this at conference

to be fair, perhaps she already has

i feel frankly a bit about all the candidates

maktaitai - I use private schools for my kids but i am happy for the Labour party to abolish private schools. Where does that leave me?

Ed Milliband the only one with enough votes to stand atm. It seems as though he is more popular than David in the parliamentary party.