Kendall backs preferential voting to stop Corbyn – but what about Cooper and Burnham?

Liz Kendall has encouraged voters in the Labour leadership election to use up all of their preferences in order to stop frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn being elected. In an interview with The Independent today, Kendall said:

“I will be using my second and third preferences… It won’t be for Jeremy.  I will be strongly urging all of those who are putting me as their first preferences to use their second and third preferences.”

She added that while she had obvious differences with both Cooper and Burnham, there is a “far greater” gulf between their policies and Corbyn’s:

“It is really important that people use three preference votes. I have set out very clearly where I differ with all the candidates but our differences with Jeremy’s kind of politics are far greater.”

“The main thing people need to consider is who is the best placed person to win against Jeremy.”

Yvette Cooper yesterday made a speech criticising Jeremy Corbyn’s policies, and when interviewed by LabourList, encouraged everyone to use their preferences – suggesting that Corbyn cannot win in 2020:

“I think people should use all of their preferences. And I think the focus has to be how do we make sure we can win that election, and that’s the most important thing – and I don’t think Jeremy can do that.”

However, Andy Burnham said that it is unlikely he will use his own preferences at all – despite supporters such as Rachel Reeves encouraging people to do so. When LabourList asked Burnham whether he would use a second preference on the ballot, he said:

“Probably not, no. I’m fighting to win this campaign, and I believe I can still win this race. I’m confident going into it.

“If you look at the numbers, I’m increasingly the only one who can win this race other than Jeremy.”