A day in the race: September 14th

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

After the penultimate hustings at the TUC today, the leadership candidates have practically gone to ground today, presumably concentrating their efforts on GOTV as they try to maximise their time over the final week, but we’ve still had visits, media appearances, and a video for LabourList readers…

ED BALLS stayed at the TUC today, and spoke at the NASUWT/UCATT fringe on the impact of the BSF cuts.

He also did a series of interviews on the on Ofsted’s report on special educational needs. Speaking to BBC News, he said:

“Some children have extra barriers, need extra help and that costs money.”

As we covered on LabourList earlier today – Ed also criticised the government over their latest “gimmick” on academies – and by popular demand he was on the drums again…

Today, the BBC and the Independent have run features on DIANE ABBOTT ‘s warning that cuts could damage race relations. Following her appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Diane stated that the cuts could hit ethnic minorities and women harder than other groups, and called for ethnic and gender monitoring to be carried out when public bodies axe jobs:

“My concern is that the progress black and ethnic minority workers have made in employment is relatively recent and if there have to be big cuts, it will be ‘last in, first out’ and these cuts will fall disproportionately not just on women but on black and ethnic minority workers.”

“I think the public sector cuts have the potential to set back race relations and black and ethnic minority communities by a generation.”

DAVID MILIBAND was the latest candidate to record a video for LabourList readers, in which he set out his final pitch for the leadership – focusing on Labour’s need to elect a leader that will get us back to power quicker than before:

David also recorded an AudioBoo thanking his estimated 5500 volunteers. His campaign hadn’t made a particularly big deal of his volunteer numbers until recently, but as his brother appears to be getting some attention for his 4500 volunteers, it’s possible that David’s campaign want to squash the line that Ed is the “volunteer” candidate. Today David emailed his supporters to urge them to make one final push, in an email entitled “8 days to change the future of this country”. David said:

“This election is going to be incredibly close, and we only have 8 days left to go. That’s 8 days in which, with your help, we plan to phone thousands of members across the length and breadth of this country.”

ED MILIBAND‘s was in Manchester today, and met with local councillors before going on a walkabout through the city centre. This afternoon he held media interviews, before returning to London tonight.

Meanwhile his campaign team have been concentrating on their GOTV efforts, in particular an event they’re holding with Ed tomorrow in London – they’re not saying it’s the final push, but the email has that kind of feel about it – as does the whole race at this stage…

ANDY BURNHAM was in Halton today at a community radio station, as well as attending a TUC fringe event organised by Unions 21 where he spoke on football finance – which is one of his passions.

Tonight he’ll be attending the TUC general council dinner.