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Andy Burnham has launched his campaign for the Labour leadership with a pledge to unite the party and the country.

The Shadow Health Secretary, the early favourite to take over from Ed Miliband, used a video message to set out his stall for the top job.

In a swipe at the left and the right of the party, he said Labour could not just speak to one group of voters.

“The plain truth is this. The party that I love has lost its emotional connection with millions of people.

“The way to get it back can’t possibly be to choose one group of voters over another – to speak only to people on zero hour contracts or only to shoppers at John Lewis.

“Our challenge is not to go left or right, to focus on one part of the country above another, but to rediscover the beating heart of Labour,” he said.

Mr Burnham also stressed the importance of reaching out to the voters who deserted Labour because it was not seen as aspirational or pro business.

He said the party had failed to speak to the public in the same way as it did when Tony Blair came to power in 1997 and needed to show it was there to give “every single person the dream of a better life.”

“Labour wins when it speaks to everyone and for the whole country, for Middle England but also Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,” he said.

He added: “And it needs a leader whose voice can carry into all the nations and regions of the UK.

"Be heard in every home, someone who people can relate to, who understands their lives. I am that person. I can unite this country.”

Mr Burnham joins Chuka Umunna and Liz Kendall in the race for the leadership.

Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt is considering whether to throw his hat in the ring.

Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee today announced the result of the leadership and deputy leadership would be announced on Saturday September 12.

Under the rules candidates need the nominations of 15% of the parliamentary party - 35 MPs - by June 15 in order to stand.

Contenders expected to run for the Deputy Leadership include Caroline Flint, Tom Watson, Stella Flint and Angela Eagle.