Labour leadership: Candidates clash in Liverpool hustings as Keir Starmer takes early poll lead
Follow how the debate unfolded
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Your support makes all the difference.Labour leadership hopefuls have gone head-to-head for the chance to succeed Jeremy Corbyn at the party's first hustings.
Sir Keir Starmer has cemented his early lead in the contest with a new YouGov poll of Labour members handing him a clear lead over his nearest rival, left-wing contender Rebecca Long-Bailey.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry was struggling to make up ground as she launched her campaign on Friday, with prominent backbenchers Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips also trailing behind.
The hustings in Liverpool on Saturday also saw a clash between deputy leadership hopefuls, where Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, is the clear favourite.
Ilford North MP Wes Streeting, who is backing Jess Phillips, said he was "proud" of the candidate following the hustings.
Around 500 Labour members are attending the hustings in Liverpool today, by most of those interviewed by the Press Association said there was no "knock-out" blow by any of the candidates.
Duncan Hannant, a member from Rochdale, said: "I thought they all performed admirably. I do have concerns about Emily Thornberry and how she may be seen in the north. I've seen her at the dispatch box, she's very good but in terms of going down with northern men or Workington man, I'm not so sure.
"I think we need someone from the north and Nandy is I think the best option at this stage."
Keith Hebron, from Bootle, Liverpool, said: "I think probably the weakest was Jess. The person who spoke most about socialism and community was Long-Bailey. I will be supporting her. I think the issue on abortion may be an issue for her in the Labour Party."
Danuta Brooke, from Sheffield, said: "I thought they were all good candidates capable of leading the Labour Party. For me it is who would make the best opposition leader and for me, Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry would be best for that."
A man from Riverside Labour Party in Liverpool, who did not want to give his name, said: "My personal view is the best person is Long-Bailey. I think she performed better than I thought she would, maybe she's had a negative press recently, so I was pleasantly surprised."
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