91Èȱ¬

There's just a few days left for Labour MPs to say who they're nominating to be .

And so far in the North East and Cumbria, David Miliband is clearly ahead in terms of backing from his colleagues in the region.

.

Scarcely surprising that an MP from the North should get so much local backing.

Interestingly though, a lot of the new intake have nailed their colours to his mast, even though he's long since had the 33 nominations he needed to get on the ballot paper.

His backers so far are: Alan Campbell (Tynemouth), Mary Glindon (North Tyneside), Jamie Reed (Copeland), Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central), Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South), Pat Glass (Durham North West), Alex Cunningham (Stockton North), Sir Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough), Jenny Chapman (Darlington), Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) and Hugh Bayley (York Central).

from the region. His backers are Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West), Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland), Iain Wright (Hartlepool), Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) and Dave Anderson (Blaydon).

: Roberta Blackman-Woods (Durham City), Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle North), Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) and Grahame Morris (Easington).

The remaining three candidates each have one nomination from the North East. Kevan Jones (Durham North) has nominated and Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley) has gone for .

Newcastle Central's new MP Chi Onwurah has nominated . Although she won't necessarily vote for her, she says she's keen for her to make the ballot paper as the only female, and only black candidate.

But with three candidates still well short of the 33 nominations needed, the scramble will be on in the last few days to persuade our remaining MPs to make a choice.

Yet to make a nomination are Wansbeck's Ian Lavery and Workington's Tony Cunningham.

I understand Newcastle East's Nick Brown won't make any nomination because as Labour's Chief Whip he needs to remain neutral.

It was interesting this week about their choice. They all had their own individual reasons.

But it struck me so far that their choice appeared to be based more on the personal qualities of their favoured candidate rather than about massive policy differences.

That may change as a three-month debate should be more than long enough to demonstrate any divisions.

You suspect though that there's certainly not that much dividing the leading candidates.

Ed Balls is generally winning more supporters from the soft left than his rivals, but Labour members may have to go on their gut instinct of who they trust to revive the party rather than choosing any specific policy platform.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• |
• |
• - What's this?