Chuka Umunna backs Liz Kendall for Labour leadership

Chuka Umunna has backed Liz Kendall to become the next Labour leader.

Mr Umunna - who pulled out of the race himself earlier this month - said Ms Kendall was the candidate who could move the party "beyond our comfort zone" after asking the "tough questions" about Labour's future.

Ms Kendall, a shadow care services minister, was the first candidate to put her name forward to replace Ed Miliband and she has already won the backing of shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt.

Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham and Mary Creagh are also standing in the contest which will be decided on September 12.

Each candidate requires the support of 35 MPs by the time nominations close on June 15.

Ms Kendall can now add Umunna and his ex-campaign team - Emma Reynolds, Stephen Twigg and Jonathan Reynolds - to her tally.

Writing in the New Statesman, Mr Umunna said the next leader must embrace "a vision of a Britain in which all can get on".