Labour Leadership Election: Who's In Corbyn, Burnham, Cooper And Kendall's Gang?

Labour Leadership Race: Your Guide To Who's Backing Who
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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 10: Labours candidates for Leader and Deputy Leader Liz Kendall,Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Jeremy Corbyn take part in a hustings in The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs on July 10, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. The four candidates for the Labour leadership Andy Burnham, Liz Kendall, Jeremy Corbyn and Yvette Cooper faced questions on a range of issues including immigration, welfare and the economy. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images

The dispute raging in pubs, round dinner tables and on Twitter over who should succeed Ed Miliband as leader of the Labour Party shows no signs of abating, as each of the four hopefuls steps up their bid to win over members.

Every day the candidates campaign teams' jostle to push and promote ringing endorsements - from senior MPs to pop stars, national newspapers to TV personalities - all aiming to promote lent credibility and boost the chances of their contender's cause.

Rupert Murdoch, the famed Australian media baron, weighed into the debate with a series of bizarrely cryptic tweets, claiming that leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn outstripped his rivals because he was the only one who "believes anything".

The proprietor of three British national papers is only the latest in a long line of influential figures to publicly throw their weight behind a candidate.

Below, we bring you a round-up of all the biggest names backing those vying to lead Labour.

Who Is Backing Who In The Labour Leadership Race?
The Corbyn Collective(01 of04)
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The left-winger and front-runner has arguably the most high-profile backers, including genuine A-list celebrities: comedian Russell Brand, singer Charlotte Church and actress Maxine Peake. While notably Labour big beasts have made their opposition to a Corbyn leadership clear, pioneering MP and television regular Diane Abbott is in his corner. Guardian columnist Owen Jones has rejected his newspaper's line to get four-square behind the Islington North MP and the Daily Record, Scotland's biggest-selling daily, has come out for Corbyn.
The Brotherhood And Sisterhood Of Burnham(02 of04)
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The Shadow Health Secretary has healthy support. Ex-Labour Cabinet ministers David Blunkett and Margaret Beckett have swung behind the Leigh MP, as have current Shadow Cabinet members Hilary Benn, Michael Dugher and Rachel Reeves. The Mirror Group newspapers - The Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and The People - have printed editorials urging their readers to back Burnham. Former Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, now an MP, is a supporter. The celeb count includes actor David Walliams, comedian Steve Coogan, indie band The Courteeners, Liz McClarnon from Atomic Kitten, actor Stephen Tompkinson and ex-footballer Neville Southall. Abby Tomlinson, who became famous on social media for setting up an Ed Miliband fan club, or "Milfandom", is also on board.
Cooper's Troopers(03 of04)
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The Shadow Home Secretary's supporters are a noisy bunch. Labour grandee Alan Johnson, seen as one of the great leaders the party never had, urged members to "end the madness" of a possible Corbyn leadership by endorsing the Castleford MP. The actor and comedian Robert Webb said a Corbyn win was "almost designed by Tories to lose the next election" and he would back Ms Copper "without going mental or turning cartwheels or imagining that she is the answer to literally everything". Gordon Brown gave a speech warning Corbyn could damage international relations, before later revealing he would back his former ministerial colleague. His wife, Sarah, is a Cooper-ite too. Campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence was among 150 women from the Labour party and beyond to back her to lead. The Guardian newspaper has offered its support.
Kendall's Clan(04 of04)
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The outsider in the race, who has stood on a platform of the party needing to modernise, New Labour-like, was hailed for boasting "plain speaking, fresh thinking and political courage" by David Miliband. Another to give her their first preference vote is former Chancellor Alistair Darling, who said the Leicester West MP "recognises the scale of the challenge we face”. Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is a backer, as are current Labour frontbenchers Chuka Umunna, Emma Reynolds and Tristram Hunt. Blur drummer Dave Rowntree says she would make the best leader. "You have to win elections – there’s no benefit being right if nobody is going to put what you’re saying into action,” the musician said. The Sun newspaper said she is “the only prayer (Labour) have”.