David Miliband remains Labour frontrunner
David Miliband is the clear frontrunner in the Labour leadership race
The housing benefit bill is expected to be over £21bn by 2014, with 4.7 million households receiving some support. |  |
The screw is tightening in the ongoing row over phone hacking at News of the World, with Alan Johnson suggesting an inspection of the original police investigation may be necessary. |  |
Related Analysis and Comment
Scrapping the default retirement age is being sold as a 'good thing'. Don't be fooled. The government is taking this step not because it wants to - but because it needs to. |  |
Friday, 30, Jul 2010 10:43
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.