A day in the race: July 24th

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

The leadership race had something of a sedate saturday today. There were plenty of visits, but there was also some leisure time – and a great deal of travel time. Tomorrow the candidates face off against each other in the Women’s hustings, and ahead of that, one candidate wrote for LabourList on their feelings about women’s equality.

Writing for LabourList this morning, ED BALLS argued that men, as well as women, need to make a stand for women’s equality:

“Equality for women is at the heart of everything Labour stands for. We championed it when we were in government and we should be proud of the success we achieved in areas from increased maternity leave to boosting women’s pensions.”

“But women in Britain now face the greatest threat to their independence and opportunities for many decades, as the new government’s policies threaten to turn back the clock to the eighties or even the fifties.”

“And that means that men as well as women need to wake up to the reactionary threat this government poses.”

Ed was also featured on the front page of today’s Guardian, where he attacked the government over plans to scrap the admissions code:

“Without a tough code schools will be allowed to select by the back door as we go back to the days of covert selection practices like interviews, forms that ask the occupation and marital status of parents and requests for ‘voluntary’ financial contributions as part of the application process.”

“The Tories showed that they didn’t really believe in fair admissions when they criticised the action I took as Schools Secretary to strengthen the code and make sure it was being properly enforced.”

“What’s happening at the moment is nothing less than a full scale assault on comprehensive state education. Local authorities are being cut out of the picture, the best schools given extra funding at the expense of those who need support and new free market schools being set up while school buildings elsewhere are cancelled.”

Today Ed and his team were in the North West, and held a members meeting in Bolton West with Julie Hilling.

ED MILIBAND now looks almost certain to receive the endorsement and nomination from Unite on Monday, as we said this afternoon.

According to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, the Unite political committee which met today gave Ed Miliband a thumping victory over Ed Balls and Andy Burnham – winning with 24 votes compared to just 4 each for Balls and Burnham in joint second place.

It should be stressed that Ed Miliband has not yet been backed by Unite – although it’s difficult to envisage them not backing him after their political committee have been so clear in their backing.

We’ll bring full reaction when Unite make their announcement on Monday.

Ed spent the day in Luton and St Albans, before heading off to a pie and pea supper with Rosie Winterton’s CLP. He’ll then travel to Bradford in the morning, before hustings tomorrow afternoon.

DAVID MILIBAND spent another day in the North East today, and was celebrating passing the 150 milestone in CLP nominations. But with brother Ed only nine behind as I write this, that could end up being a dead heat by the time nominations close.

David also signed a petition today to support East Coast trains being built on the east coast to support British industry.

DIANE ABBOTT spent today covering the mammoth distance from the Scottish Highlands where she had been recording “Any Questions” for radio 4, to Leeds for the hustings tomorrow. That journey might sounds arduous, but at least as far as we can tell from Twitter, it sounds like Diane has been enjoying herself.

ANDY BURNHAM took some time out to watch his beloved Everton play Preston today – and was delighted with the form of ex-Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford. I’m genuinely pleased that some of the candidates are taking time out from the campaign and having some time off. Good on you Andy. _ i hope this will be followed suit by the candidates spending some quality time with their families in August.