Liz Kendall refuses to quit Labour leadership contest

While the constitution has it that Labour has to be called the opposition, in everyday use Labour should avoid it. The phrase that should become the mantra is “holding the government to account”. If that fails, Bale said, “then the party would split”.

Mr Mills said he suspected “some of the major donors” would be “less likely to give”. “But at the same time donations from trade unions could go up”, said Mills. “I welcome the debate”, Corbyn said. “If it does that, frankly, it has a death wish”.

Despite his audience, Corbyn did not hold back from criticising Israel, speaking of how Gaza had been placed “under siege” and of “serious issues concerning the bombardment of Gaza”.

He said: “Nationalism is not a new phenomenon”. Corbyn had a long record of standing up for his constituents and had demanded an independent inquiry into abuse in Islington, the spokesman added.

Three out of four of the contenders also have a negative net rating on prime ministerial credentials.

He described Jeremy Corbyn’s as a “decent and principled man” but dismissed his arguments as belonging to a by-gone era.

The former deputy prime minister threw a string of verbal punches amid rising panic in the party at Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn’s surprisingly strong showing.

But Blair said that Labour could win in 2020, though not from a “traditional leftist platform”.

This then frees up the party to focus on what it should be focusing on for the next three years – building the labour movement at local levels through community organisation activity so that, come 2019, there is a more receptive audience for a new leader.

The Ipsos MORI survey for the Standard found only 27 per cent saw shadow health secretary Andy Burnham as having what it takes to be a good premier.

Labour peer Lord Foulkes said those who nominated Mr Corbyn despite disagreeing with him should be “searching their consciences right now”. “It’s nonsense, ‘ says one Burnham source”. Cooper’s net score is -12, Kendall’s -14 and Corbyn’s -19.

It is not unreasonable to assume those who – in great numbers – now support Mr Corbyn to become the next head of their party do so because they believe it is in Labour’s interest to recalibrate itself, shifting to a more traditionally left-wing position.

Her comments came after Tony Blair intervened in the Labour row intensifying the already deep rifts in the party in the wake of the disastrous election and as a result of the leadership contest.

“Who the heck is John McTernan?” He advised in Scotland, and we lost. “He has no authority”. The conservative Daily Telegraph newspaper is urging readers to join Labour – it only costs 3 pounds ($4.70) – and vote for “bearded voter-repellent” Corbyn in order to destroy the party.

Corbyn also refused to say whether he would vote for the country to remain in the EU in a referendum next year.

“I welcome the debate”, Mr Corbyn said. That he is leading the contest reiterates just how traumatised and mad many Labour members are following their defeat in May. This is the most democratic election the Labour Party has ever conducted, it’s the widest electorate that has ever been involved in a Labour Party election.

Cooper also launched an attack on interim leader Harriet Harman’s handling of Monday night’s welfare vote.

“Those of us who stayed and fought to save the Labour party in the 1980s will be experiencing a growing sense of deja vu”, he said.

After a bruising day of recriminations the architect of its most successful electoral era said Ed Miliband’s tenure had left Labour with a “terrible legacy”.