Keir Starmer says he does not care whether people “badge” him as a Blairite or a Corbynista in the Labour leadership contest – describing both as “historical figures”.

The race favourite was told that the public was “unclear” whether he is “a centrist or a left winger”, but insisted what matters is his ability to bring all parts of the party together.

“I’m often challenged, are you a Blairite, a Corbynista?” Sir Keir acknowledged, reflecting suspicions on both wings of the party about the direction he would pursue.

But he added: “I don’t need someone else’s name tattooed on my head to make a decision or hug a historical figure.

Pressed again if he was “on the left or the right of the party”, the shadow Brexit secretary added: “What I want is what matters. Now, where other people badge that doesn’t particularly concern me.”

And he said: “I can think for myself, I don’t need to hug Jeremy Corbyn, I don’t need to hug Tony Blair or anybody else to make a decision.”

Speaking to Sky News Ridge on Sunday programme, Sir Keir also:

* Criticised Mr Corbyn’s refusal to say Labour would definitely back Remain in a second Brexit referendum, arguing he warned the party would “look indecisive” in the election campaign.

* Refused to say if he would ever back a second Scottish independence referendum, saying only the position should be decided “in agreement with Scottish Labour”.

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Show all 8 1 /8 The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Keir Starmer The former director of public prosecutions undoubtedly has announced that he is standing for the leadership. He is highly-regarded by both left-wingers and centrists in the party. As Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, he played a key role in the party’s eventual backing of a second referendum. Before becoming an MP, he was a human rights lawyer - conducting cases in international courts including the European Court of Human Rights. Launching his bid, Starmer said that Labour must listen to the public on how to change "restore trust in our party as a force for good." A YouGov poll places him comfortably in the lead as the preferred candidate of 36% of party members EPA The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Lisa Nandy Wigan MP Lisa Nandy has announced she wil stand for the leadership. In a letter to the Wigan Post she said she wanted to bring Labour "home" to voters in its traditional strongholds who have abandoned the party. Nandy went on to say that she understands "that we have one chance to win back the trust of people in Wigan, Workington and Wrexham." A YouGov poll shows that Nandy is the first preference for 6% of partymembers. Getty The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Rebecca Long Bailey A key ally of the current left-wing leadership of the party, the Salford & Eccles MP is viewed in some quarters as the natural successor to Mr Corbyn and describes herself as a “proud socialist”. Highly regarded by the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. She won also won plaudits for her performance filling in for Corbyn both at prime minister’s questions and during the general election debates. The shadow business secretary grew up by Old Trafford football ground and began her working life serving at the counter of a pawn shop. Launching her leadership bid, Long Bailey said the party needs to make the positive case for immigration as a "positive force." She also broke with Corbyn over Trident, saying "If you have a deterrent you have to be prepared to use it." PA The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Angela Rayner - Deputy leadership Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has joined the contest for deputy leadership of the party. After ruling herself out of running for the leadership, the Ashton-under-Lynne MP launched her bid for deputy warning that Labour faces the "biggest challenge" in its history and must "win or die." She is close with leadership contender Rebecca Long Bailey PA The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Rosena Allin-Khan - Deputy leadership Shadow sport minister Rosena Allin-Khan said Labour need to listen with "humility" to lost voters as she launched her bid for the deputy leadership. Writing in The Independent, the MP for Tooting refelcted: "We shouldn’t have ignored the warning signs in Scotland, and now we’ve paid the price in northern England, across the midlands and in Wales." PA The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Dawn Butler - Deputy leadership Shadow women and equalities secretary Dawn Butler was first to announce her bid for the deputy leadership. The Brent Central MP has served in Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet since 2016 PA The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Ian Murray - Deputy leadership Labour's only MP in Scotland said that the architects of the party's "catastrophic failure" in the December election can not be allowed to lead the party forward PA The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader Richard Burgon - Deputy leadership Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon is standing as a continuity candidate, flaunting his loyalty to Jeremy Corbyn and saying it is wrong to blame the current leader for the election defeat PA

* Attacked the “vilification” of Labour’s leader by sections of the media, adding – without explaining what he meant – “We do need to address this.”

* Declined to say if Mr Corbyn would have a place in his shadow cabinet, saying: “I am not going to be presumptuous.”

Defending his push for a second Brexit referendum, Sir Keir said: “I thought it was the right policy.

“I thought we should have gone on by the way and said which side we would be campaigning on if there was a referendum and I warned our party that if we looked indecisive, we wouldn’t look like we were leading on this issue.

“We didn’t knock down that phrase ‘Get Brexit Done’. We had a manifesto with lots and lots of policies in it, Boris Johnson had three words and we didn’t knock it down.”

On tax, he backed the outgoing Labour leader’s team of the top 5 per cent of earners paying more overall, but declined to say where a 50p income tax rate would kick in.

Asked if “the top 5 per cent should pay the 50p rate,” he replied: “No, no, not from the start.”

Later, asked about the media at leadership hustings, Sir Keir said: “The press more widely have to take responsibility. Not just for the hatred and abuse but for the vilification constantly of Labour MPs and Labour leaders.