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Six North Labour parties nominate David Miliband

Richard Moss | 14:43 UK time, Friday, 9 July 2010

David MilibandThe MPs have had their say but now local Labour parties are delivering their verdicts on who they're backing to be the next party's leader.

And so far in the North, David Miliband is leading the way.

.

Six - Blyth, Bishop Auckland, Gateshead, Houghton and Sunderland South, Jarrow and Sedgefield - have gone for David Miliband.

Two - Easington and Newcastle North - have plumped for brother Ed.

One - Washington and Sunderland West - has nominated Ed Balls.

It's interesting to see where local parties have backed up their own MP's choice and where they haven't.

Sharon Hodgson backed Ed Balls, which may have helped to persuade her local party in Washington and Sunderland West to support him too.

Easington, Newcastle North, Gateshead, Houghton and Sunderland South and Sedgefield have also chosen the same candidate as their MP.

In Blyth though, Ronnie Campbell nominated Diane Abbott, in Bishop Auckland, Helen Goodman had gone for Ed Miliband and Jarrow's Stephen Hepburn had nominated Ed Balls.

The nominations don't mean a great deal though as each individual Labour party member still has their own vote. We also don't know how many members bothered to take part in the process.

But they might be some indication of where the candidates stand.

If the contest was based on fundraising clout, then David Miliband would certainly be well ahead.

According to the Electoral Commission, the South Shields MP has raised £185,000 so far. Contrast that with the £28,000 accumulated by Ed Balls, and the £15,000 raised by Ed Miliband.

David Miliband's donors include Chariots of Fire producer and former Vice Chancellor of Sunderland University Lord David Puttnam, Lord David Sainsbury and former Blur drummer Dave Rowntree.

David Miliband meets the Politics Show panel of current and former Labour membersBut this Sunday The Politics Show puts Mr Miliband through its own test.

We introduced him to four local Labour party members and one former member.

All were undecided, so we gave him half an hour to win them over.

You can see how well he gets on in the programme this Sunday on ´óÏó´«Ã½1 at 11am.

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