David Miliband in party leader vote warning

DAVID Miliband warned today that Labour risked three or four terms out of office if it picks the wrong leader to succeed Gordon Brown.

In an interview, the front-runner in the contest said he was "trying to persuade the Labour Party not to lose three or four elections before it bounces back".

The shadow foreign secretary described himself as "the unity candidate", with support from all sides of the party.

Speaking about his association with New Labour, Mr Miliband said: "I'm learning from the past but not living in it."

Mr Miliband today also revealed two new allies in his bid for the leadership, former EastEnders actor Ross Kemp and X-Men star Sir Patrick Stewart.

The new leader will be announced in Manchester on September 25 ahead of the party's annual conference.