Liz Kendall announces she’s running for Labour leader

In an interview with Andrew Neil, Liz Kendall has confirmed that she’s running for Labour leader. In a polished performance, Kendall set out why she believes education has to be at the centre of Labour’s message, arguing that is what enables people to get good jobs and earn decent wages. She also subtly reminded people of her doubts about the whole Miliband strategy and message by quoting her own warning—delivered back in January—that Labour couldn’t afford to just sound like the moaning man in the pub.

Going by her performance today, Kendall is going to be a formidable candidate. She combines good media skills with detailed policy knowledge, she has interesting views on public service reform. Even working under Andy Burnham in the shadow health team she was prepared to repeat the Blairite mantra that ‘what matters is what works.’

The big question now for the reformist wing of the Labour party is who does it want to back out of Kendal, Chuka Umunna, and Tristram Hunt as all three of them seem to be running.