BLAIRITE Liz Kendall became the first Labour MP yesterday to declare they will stand in the party’s leadership contest.

The shadow health minister, who is a leading member of Labour’s right-wing Progress faction, made the announcement live on the BBC’s Sunday Politics show.

Asked by Andrew Neil if Labour should return to New Labour, she said: “Going back to the past isn’t what we need.”

But she added: “If what you mean by that is that we need to keep our working-class leaders and support but reach out to Conservative supporters and middle England, that’s absolutely right.”

Shadow business secretary and fellow Progress favourite Chuka Umunna said he will not confirm whether he is standing before Labour’s national executive sets out the timetable later this week.

Labour said last week that they want the election finished before the party’s September conference.

But Labour executive member Jonathan Ashworth said yesterday he was “pushing for a long contest that allows all to give speeches at conference.”