PC 4: Labour Leadership Race

[Corgi]

Who are you backing in the race to become the next Prime Minister? Open to Labour players only. Closes Thursday at 11:59pm GMT.

[Sir Jack Anderson]

I know Jack Wright to be a man of conviction, which is a good quality in a leader. Plus, I will always have a soft spot for my namesakes.

But I know Dr. MacAndrews well, having once shared an office with her. She knows how to make Labour fit for government and able to speak for the nation, and will allow us to heal and move on from the internal divisions and factional pettiness of the last few years. She would make a fantastic Labour leader and Prime Minister, and I’m happy to endorse her.

[Brown]

I'm proud to announce my support for Dr. McAndrews for Leader of the Party and Dr. Lockhart for Deputy Leader for the party. Both women represent diverse constituencies in our United Kingdom, and have the vision and dedication to lead both the Labour Party and the Government into an even brighter future. Dr. McAndrews has done a phenomenal job as Minister for Education and, perhaps even more importantly, has served her constituents in Edinburgh faithfully in Parliament, never forgetting her dedication to her voters while on the front-bench. If elected, she will also be the first Prime Minister since Alec Douglas-Home to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from Scotland, and has been a leading figure in Scottish Devolution in Parliament. Likewise, Dr. Lockhart has done exceptional work as Minister for Health, laying out a bold vision for the health of the United Kingdom in her paper Our Healthier Nation', and has lead the way in ensuring that the NHS is strengthened after decades of Tory mismanagement. Both women represent the best and brightest of the Labour Party, and have not only a bold platform and vision for the United Kingdom, but have also proven they are the best people to lead the United Kingdom in this new Millennium. It is time for this party to put aside divisions of old and unite behind the two best-qualified candidates for these important positions--and I am certain that the United Kingdom and the Labour party will be in good hands with both of them.

[Blakesley]

Mary MacAndrews and Amelia Lockhart are simply the most qualified individuals in the running to be the next Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, respectively. After four years in government, New Labour delivered on key promises that we made to the people of the United Kingdom. As a result, our fiscal position is more secure, our families are more prosperous, and our schools and health system are stronger than they have ever been. Now is the time to continue our momentum - to build upon the successes of the last four years and convince the British people that we deserve a historic third term in office. While Tony did a great deal to write the first chapter of Labour's success, it is time for the next chapter to begin - one that corrects the mistakes of the past and keeps the United Kingdom, and Labour, on a course for a profoundly brighter future. Mary and Amelia will achieve that and I am thrilled to endorse them.

[Sir Jack Anderson]

In a Deputy Leader, I look for two things: someone who will unreservedly support the elected leader of the Labour Party, and someone who will fight to put Labour in government.

Of the candidates, it is Amelia Lockhart who seems to most understand this. She won't use the position to push her favoured policies or her favoured narrow factional interests, but will use it to get Labour into government - making a real change in people's lives. That is why I am proud to endorse her for Deputy Leader.

[Charles Trenython]

The ideals of New Labour remain alive and kicking. An agenda which has delivered fiscal responsibility and increased personal prosperity for every member of the United Kingdom. An agenda which delivers ethical and sustainable relations with our international partners. An agenda which provides real investment in our public services to keep us safe and healthy.

After the election, Tony Blair promised to continue to earn the trust of the British people. Whilst I am sad to see him move on, I am certain that the Labour Party, under the leadership of Mary MacAndrews and Amelia Lockhart, can continue to deliver on the guiding principles which millions of our hard-working constituents elected this New Labour Government upon. We must not stop our pursuit of a fairer and progressive society and we are best placed to do this when we act as one.

Mary MacAndrews, in particular, is known to be a great unifier within the party seeking to unite the party after the departure of Gordon Brown from the cabinet. It is these leadership qualities, similar to those I experienced first hand in my time in the military, which make her the best bit to be the first elected female Labour leader and represents what this party is all about. The ability to call on the right people around you to deliver your objectives. We can really call on the best the Labour Party has to offer if we can elect Mary and Amelia to the top of the Labour party to drive us all forward to a brighter future.

[Kayla Gray]

In the 4 years I have worked in Parliament, Jack Wright is one of the most honourable, honest and hard working MPs I have come across. He comes from a modest, working class background and its shows to this day that, despite being an experienced parliamentarian, he is still just as in touch with his working class roots as he was when he was elected to serve the people of Salford in 1974. These are the communities we need to be fine tuned to, we need to listen to and we need to represent in order to continue in government as well as make the positive change that our society needs.

The New Labour project has led to many people becoming disconnected with our politics. In my experience on the campaign trail, many people said they wouldn’t turn out because the parties are ‘all just the same’. That’s something that stuck with me personally. People were not turning out because of the lack of meaningful difference between the parties. It’s something that happened all over the country, with the turnout at the most recent election taking a massive dip to the lowest turnout at a General Election since before the Second World War. The people of Britain deserve something different and something better, and that’s what Labour has to offer, and that’s what Jack Wright will offer as Leader of our Party and Prime Minister.

[Elizabeth Tanner]

Today I officially started my campaign for the leadership of the Labour Party and to be our next Prime Minister. In my speech I made it clear that business as usual can no longer take place and if we are to restore the trust of the British people we must turn away from the politics of spin and scandal, and return to the politics of hope that swept us into power four years ago. In 1997 we built a coalition of forces to end the pain of eighteen years of Conservative misrule and that coalition stretched across the political spectrum and across our society, a coalition that must be strengthened now or else we lose all that we have achieved. Britain cannot afford another Conservative government and they need the Labour party to be united and committed to delivering the manifesto that we got elected on. I am offering a Government dedicated to working in the interest of the British people.

[Elizabeth Tanner]

A hallmark of my leadership as Prime Minister will be a re-commitment to education for all. Education is the great equaliser. Early intervention delivers strong results for children's future success in life, and the earlier that we close the attainment gap between children from different backgrounds the higher the success rate. As Prime Minister I will deliver the manifesto commitment to hire 10,000 more teacher. I will strengthen and expand early years education. I will build upon the success of the Sure Start programme that is already delivering great results for children in the first three years of their life. It is shameful that in this day and age the greatest determinant for education success is the wealth a child is born into. Despite protestations from Conservatives tinkering around with private school is not the way to lift up millions of children, and no Government I lead would ever consider re-introducing the Assisted Places Scheme or expanding Grammar School, but the true way to improve educational outcomes for all children is the expansion and strengthening of comprehensive education that gives all children equal chances of success.

[Elizabeth Tanner]

The politics of scandal and sleaze can no longer continue. In the announcement of my bid to be the next Prime Minister I announced that I would commission a truly independent inquiry into the appointments systems in the United Kingdom. For decades all parties have taken advantage and if we are to restore the trust of the British people we must be open and transparent about the system's failings. The inquiry will be truly independent of government and will have the mandate and resources to get to the bottom of this problem.