Former prime minister Gordon Brown has said Labour can only deliver on its principles in power as he made a high-profile intervention in the leadership contest with a keynote speech.
Mr Brown said he did not aim to attack any of the candidates in a speech that set out to clearly distance himself from support for frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown has said Labour can only deliver on its principles in power.
"Leaders come and leaders go, I know that," Mr Brown said at London's Southbank Centre as he began his speech with a call for the party to continue its "mission" to "advance social justice".
"We can only measure the progress we make by the difference we make in people's lives," he added.
"It is not an abandonment of principles to seek power and to use that power in government. It is the realisation of principles."
Former PM avoided naming any Labour leadership candidates in his speech, but appeared to make a veiled warning against electing Corbyn.
A poll rates Jeremy Corbyn as the leadership candidate both most likely to improve Labour's fortunes and damage the party's chances.