Labour MPs must work with new leader, whoever it is – says Harriet Harman

Harriet Harman, Labour’s interim leader, has urged Labour MPs to “work with” the party’s next leader – whoever it is.

Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall are all in the running for the position. Polls suggest that Corbyn is the frontrunner. The ballots close on Thursday and the leader will be announced at a special conference in London on Saturday.

On this morning’s Andrew Marr show Harman said that she is “absolutely confident” the result of the election would be legitimate. This is very similar to statement she has made some weeks earlier.

Harman, who noted that she had remained “scrupulously neutral” throughout the leadership contest, said that Labour had used “due diligence” to ensure that only eligible members and supporters were able to vote.

Harman said that whoever is elected will be a “valid” winner.

Labour’s interim leader also noted that the party had its eyes set on victory in 2020, and that it would be the job of the new leader, MPs and party members to ensure that this happens.

“Obviously we want a Labour leader who is going to be an effective leader of the opposition and a prime minister.Whoever is chosen, we will all need to be working with to get ourselves electable”, she said.