Jeremy Corbyn is 'a close second' in Labour leadership race

Labour lobbyist Luke Akehurst predicts leftwinger is not far from potential victory, while it is thought Blairite Liz Kendall could come fourth

By Michael Wilkinson 06 July 2015 • 10:42am

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn speaks to protesters following a march against the British government's spending cuts and austerity measures in London on June 20, 2015. — Jeremy Corbyn at a recent poetry slam Credit: Photo: AFP/Getty

Labour could come close to electing Jeremy Corbyn as its next leader, with one key lobbyist predicting he will come a close second to the winning candidate.

The left-wing candidate won the backing of Britain's biggest union Unite at the weekend. It has 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy.

Days until new Labour leader announced

Five unions - including the Fire brigades Union and the RMT rail union – are now backing Mr Corbyn to beat rival Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Andy Burnham to be Labour leader this September.

Luke Akehurst, the respected Labour lobbyist, has predicted Mr Corbyn will come second in the race:

@PickardJE I think he could get in final two and only lose on transfers
— Luke Akehurst (@lukeakehurst) July 5, 2015

Andy Burnham is still the favourite to win the contest.

The decision by Unite to back Mr Burnham as the runner-up candidate is likely to boost the shadow health secretary’s chances when all the first and second votes are added together.

Unite will meet today to discuss its future links with the Labour party.

• Unite backs Jeremy Corbyn

• Who is Jeremy Corbyn and what makes him tick?

Other Labour insiders have suggested that the changing dynamics of the leadership race could leave Liz Kendall, the most Blairite of the candidates, could come in fourth place.