Politicsuk newsgeneral election 2015ed miliband

Who Will Be The Next Labour Party Leader? Ed Miliband's Potential Successors After Shock Election Results

Here Are Miliband's Potential Successors
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By 

Assistant News Editor, HuffPost UK

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Ed Miliband has resigned at Labour leader after a disastrous performance for his party in the General Election.

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The Labour leader didn't to speak to reporters on his way into party headquarters today

Miliband biographer and former HuffPost UK political director Mehdi Hasan tweeted the next leadership contest can't be a repeat of the long 2010 contest.

Newsnight reporter Laura Kuenssberg cited a Labour source saying the party wanted a leadership contest "asap".

Ed Miliband took "absolute and total responsibility" for the election result in his resignation speech: "I am so sorry for all of those colleagues who lost their seats - Ed Balls, Jim Murphy, Margaret Curran, Douglas Alexander and all the MPs and indeed candidates who were defeated.

"They're friends, colleagues and standard bearers for our party, they always have been and they always will be."

He continued: "Britain needs a strong Labour Party. Britain needs a Labour Party that can rebuild after this defeat so we can have a government that stands up for working people again.

"And now it's time for someone else to take forward the leadership of this party.

"So I am tendering my resignation, taking effect after this afternoon's commemoration of VE Day at the Cenotaph.

"I want to do so straight away because the party needs to have an open and honest debate about the right way forward without constraint."

Below are the most likely candidates to try and succeed Miliband.

Ed Miliband's Potential Successors
Andy Burnham(01 of06)
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A senior Labour source told Mehdi Hasan, formerly of HuffPostUK that Burnham, who also stood in 2010, "will be the unions' candidate tomorrow". (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Yvette Cooper(02 of06)
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Unlike her husband Ed Balls, the shadow home secretary didn't run in 2010 for the party leadership. Now could be her chance and her husband would be unlikely to challenge her. (credit:Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
Liz Kendall(03 of06)
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Kendall, the Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, was deemed to be launching a leadership bid when, in January, she told The House magazine the private sector had a role in the NHS because "what matters is what works". (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
Chuka Umunna(04 of06)
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After boosting his own majority by more than 10,000 in this election, Shadow Business Secretary Umunna must want to move on to bigger things. Having entered parliament 2010, he doesn't have the damaging association with New Labour that Miliband and Balls did. (credit:Matt Dunham/AP)
David Miliband(05 of06)
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If Miliband senior sees a by-election he likes, he could return to parliament and seek to be his party's leader in time for 2020. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Dan Jarvis(06 of06)
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Ex-army officer Jarvis has only been in parliament since 2011. But his military background is the perfect answer to the 'What have you done outside politics?' question that haunted Ed Miliband. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)

READ MORE Ed Miliband Set To Resign As Labour Leader After Shock General Election Night Results

Ed Miliband arrives at Labour HQ

Ed Miliband Resigns
(01 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(02 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(03 of19)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband waves as he arrives at Labour party headquarters on May 8, 2015 in London, England. After the United Kingdom went to the polls yesterday the Conservative party are confirmed as the winners of a closely fought general election which has returned David Cameron as Prime Minister with a slender majority for his party. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(04 of19)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband waves as he arrives with his wife Justine Thornton at Labour party headquarters on May 8, 2015 in London, England. After the United Kingdom went to the polls yesterday the Conservative party are confirmed as the winners of a closely fought general election which has returned David Cameron as Prime Minister with a slender majority for his party. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(05 of19)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband waves as he arrives with his wife Justine Thornton at Labour party headquarters on May 8, 2015 in London, England. After the United Kingdom went to the polls yesterday the Conservative party are confirmed as the winners of a closely fought general election which has returned David Cameron as Prime Minister with a slender majority for his party. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(06 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (L) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(07 of19)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband waves as he arrives with his wife Justine Thornton at Labour party headquarters on May 8, 2015 in London, England. After the United Kingdom went to the polls yesterday the Conservative party are confirmed as the winners of a closely fought general election which has returned David Cameron as Prime Minister with a slender majority for his party. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(08 of19)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband waves as he arrives with his wife Justine Thornton at Labour party headquarters on May 8, 2015 in London, England. After the United Kingdom went to the polls yesterday the Conservative party are confirmed as the winners of a closely fought general election which has returned David Cameron as Prime Minister with a slender majority for his party. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(09 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(10 of19)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband waves as he arrives with his wife Justine Thornton at Labour party headquarters on May 8, 2015 in London, England. After the United Kingdom went to the polls yesterday the Conservative party are confirmed as the winners of a closely fought general election which has returned David Cameron as Prime Minister with a slender majority for his party. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(11 of19)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband waves as he arrives with his wife Justine Thornton at Labour party headquarters on May 8, 2015 in London, England. After the United Kingdom went to the polls yesterday the Conservative party are confirmed as the winners of a closely fought general election which has returned David Cameron as Prime Minister with a slender majority for his party. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(12 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(13 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(14 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(15 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(16 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(17 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(18 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
(19 of19)
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Opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband (C) and his wife Justine Thornton arrive at Labour party headquarters in London on May 8, 2015, the day after a general election. Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives looked on course Friday for a surprise victory in Britain's general election which would redefine the country's future in Europe and herald more austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)

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