David Miliband remains Labour frontrunner
Friday, 30 July 2010 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
David Miliband continues to hold off his brother Ed Miliband in the race for the Labour leadership, a poll suggests.
Research by YouGov put the shadow foreign secretary's share of the electoral college at 37%, compared to 29% for the shadow energy and climate change secretary.
Diane Abbott and Andy Burnham stood on 12%, with Ed Balls in last place on 11%. When their votes were redistributed for a run-off between the Miliband brothers David Miliband had an eight-point advantage, holding 54% to 46%.
The official nominations stage of the leadership race concluded earlier this week, with David Miliband having secured the most nominations from MPs and constituency Labour parties.
But supporters of Ed Miliband pointed out he had gained more support from trade unions. One shadow Cabinet backer told politics.co.uk union support was "hugely important".
David Miliband is viewed by party members as the closest candidate to the centre. A third of Labour members viewed him as in the centre and a third slightly left-of-centre - while 19% thought he was right of centre.
Five per cent thought Ms Abbott was right of centre, however, suggesting party members' assessment of candidates' sensibilities should be taken with a pinch of salt.
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