Britain's defeated Labour to name a new leader in September

Britain's Labour Party will name a new leader on Sept 12 following the resignation of Ed Miliband (above) in the wake of his shock election defeat last week, the party's executive committee said on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Labour Party will name a new leader on Sept 12 following the resignation of Ed Miliband (above) in the wake of his shock election defeat last week, the party's executive committee said on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (AFP) - Britain's opposition Labour will name its new leader on Sept 12 after Ed Miliband resigned in the wake of last week's bruising election defeat, the party's executive committee said Wednesday.

Nominations to replace Miliband will close on June 15, the centre-left party said.

Liz Kendall, Labour's spokeswoman for care and the elderly, and Chuka Umunna, spokesman on business, had earlier declared they would run for the party leadership.

Health spokesman Andy Burnham joined them by announcing his candidacy on Wednesday.

Yvette Cooper, a former work and pensions minister, and education spokesman Tristram Hunt are also seen as potential contenders.

Bookmakers' favourite Umunna, 36, would be the first leader of a major British political party from an ethnic minority but is seen by critics as too inexperienced, having been elected to parliament only in 2010.

Divisions have emerged within the party over whether its general election campaign was too left-wing - or not left-wing enough.

Former prime minister Tony Blair and supporters of his centrist "New Labour" approach were particularly critical of Miliband's pitch.

In announcing his candidacy, Burnham said: "Our challenge is not to go left or right, to focus on one part of the country above another, but to rediscover the beating heart of Labour."

Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives won the May 7 election with 331 out of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, against 232 for Labour.

"The general election saw the Labour Party suffer a serious defeat and over the coming weeks we need an open and honest debate on the right way forward," said interim party leader Harriet Harman.

Leadership contenders need the support of 15 per cent of Labour lawmakers, which works out at 34.

Party members, registered supporters and affiliated supporters get one vote each.

The new leader will be in place for the party's annual conference on Sept 27.

Meanwhile, the media appeared to be closing in on the much-mocked "EdStone", a 2.6m-high monument with vague-sounding Labour election pledges carved in stone.

Unveiled by Miliband in a car park on May 3, the monolith was destined for the garden of 10 Downing Street if Labour won - but mysteriously vanished without trace when it didn't.

The Guardian newspaper said it understood the policy tablet was "languishing in a south London garage" where it is "kept under lock and key, to avoid any discovery which might cause further embarrassment".

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