Until now I haven’t spoken out about the Labour Leadership contest.

As an MP I didn’t nominate any of the candidates in the early stages of the process, because I had no natural affiliation with any of them, and I wanted to see what they had to say about their plans for the Party and for getting Labour back into Government.

As the campaign has progressed, it has become clear to me that Andy Burnham is the best candidate and he will get my first preference vote. He is running his campaign on sound policies derived from his clear principles, and he’s the one who can grow Labour’s appeal and win in 2020.

Andy Burnham is right that Labour’s mission must be to revive hope, and he is proposing policies to tackle the insecurities and inequalities which bedevil our society.  Replacing tuition fees with a more progressive graduate tax. Gradual renationalisation of our railways. Bringing social care into the NHS, ensuring it is free at the point of use for all.

Andy also has strong positions on inequality and on rebuilding Labour’s credibility on the economy, and he’s not afraid to risk the ire of the right-wingers. He’s not afraid to be bold.  Without boldness, we cannot win in 2020.  For example, he overtly stands up for trades unions, for re-nationalising the railways, for access to justice, and for challenging TTIP.

 This is a candidate after my own heart:  not afraid to assert and use the power of the state to regulate and to intervene when there is market failure.

So please join me in backing Andy. Use your vote, and let’s unite behind a Labour Leader who can enable us to beat the real opposition – the Tories – in 2020. 

Rob Marris MP, Wolverhampton South West