Jeb Bush announces he will run for US president

Jeb Bush has officially kicked off his campaign for the White House Credit: Reuters

The former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has officially announced he will seek the Republican presidential nomination.

He is the brother of former US president George W Bush and the son of another president George Bush Snr, neither of whom were in the audience.

Jeb Bush made the announcement at Miami Dade University which is near his home in south Florida.

He said: "Our country is on a very bad course. And the question is: What are we going to do about it? The question for me is: What am I going to do about it? And I have decided: I am a candidate for president of the United States."

ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore:

He went on to say: "I will give it my all, I will take nothing and no-one for guaranteed - I will run with heart and I will run to win."

During the speech he said he wanted to secure US energy within five years and pledged his support to the "brave, democratic state of Israel."

He gave part of the speech in Spanish which may be an indication of any upcoming campaign attempting to reach groups which do not traditionally vote Republican.

He ended his speech by saying: "It begins here and now and I'm asking for your vote. Thank you and God bless you all."

In the run up to the official announcement Jeb Bush has struggled to answer questions on his brother's decision to invade Iraq.

His positions on immigration, education and other issues could make him less popular among many conservatives.

The Republican candidate will be chosen next month and the election for president will take place in 2016.