The Independent and ORB survey shows that Andy Burnham is the Labour leadership contender most likely to improve the party’s chances at the next general election.
The shadow Health Secretary was cited by 36 per cent when people were asked, irrespective of which party they would support, to say which of the four Labour candidates would most enhance the party’s prospects at the 2020 election.
Liz Kendall, the shadow Care Minister who is seen as the Blairite candidate, came second on 25 per cent, with Yvette Cooper, the shadow Home Secretary, on 20 per cent and Jeremy Corbyn, a left-wing backbencher, on 18 per cent reports The Independent.
Mr Burnham enjoys strong support in the North West – the region from which he hails and where is MP for Leigh – as the party’s most likely vote-winner (44 per cent). He enjoys more backing among men (39 per cent) than women (33 per cent).
Labour is split over the decision by some MPs who will not vote for Mr Corbyn to nominate the left-winger in order to broaden the choice for Labour’s 260,000 members and registered supporters. They hope the contest will show that Mr Corbyn’s views are rejected by Labour. But some Labour moderates are appalled, saying that advertising the left’s influence in the party sends a damaging signal to the voters Labour needs to win back after last month’s shattering defeat. Corbyn allies believe he could win between 10 and 20 per cent of the votes.