Six weeks to go, and I feel it is finally time I answered the question I’ve been asked countless times since Ed Miliband resigned, following an election campaign during which I created the milifandom hashtag in support of him. Who am I backing for Labour leadership? There are things I like about all of the candidates. I have watched the debates, attended my local hustings, had the opportunity to interview three of them, and met all four – so I feel like I have a good basis to make a decision.

First, the world would be an infinitely better place with more kind, and compassionate people like Jeremy Corbyn. Although I don’t believe that he is the right choice for leader, he is going to be my second preference – and I would still be happy if he won. He has genuinely connected with a vast number of people. The surge of activism for him, particularly among young people, and all the support he has received means that even if he isn’t elected it is vital that he has a voice in the future of the party.

Burnham hasn’t complained about the other candidates, but rather focused on why he thinks he would be the best leader

One of the things that Corbyn said to me was: “I never wanted a leadership debate … I wanted a policy debate.” My interpretation of this was that he would rather exert influence over party policy than actually lead the party. He needs to have a big voice in the party and its policy for the sake of those he has engaged with. I don’t think he would be given that voice under Yvette Cooper or Liz Kendall.

So, after meticulous deliberation, I have decided that I am going to be voting for Andy Burnham. I have a number of reasons for making this decision and not enough space for them all, so I’ll try and explain a few important ones. It was at the hustings I attended in Warrington that I realised something. Before that Saturday, none of the candidates had really inspired me. As someone who was prompted to join the party after being inspired, I didn’t feel any of them could do what Miliband had done and give me that fundamental drive that things needed to change. However, at those hustings, the only candidate who really spurred on that drive was Burnham.

I also feel like Burnham actually listens to party members and the public, and we need someone who has their ear to the ground like that. For example, he understands why Corbyn is doing so well, and that Corbyn should take on a shadow cabinet role if not elected. He understands why people were angry at him for abstaining on the welfare bill, and he has, unlike many, endeavoured to explain himself. He said he can’t ask to be leader and ask for support from the parliamentary Labour party if he has gone against the wishes of a leader himself.

Burnham hasn’t made statements complaining about the other candidates, but rather has focused on why he thinks he would be the best leader, because he understands that the politics of hope is much better than the politics of fear. And he doesn’t stay silent, he’s not running a tactically inoffensive campaign, he is standing up and letting everyone know, loudly, what he believes in. I honestly think he listens to people and would continue to listen if he were party leader, and because of this I think he stands the best chance of uniting the party.

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Some of the candidates are rather divisive figures, and it seems to me they would ignore certain groups of party members or perhaps public opinion. This would cause rifts in the party and mean that there would be infighting

Finally, Burnham is a genuine, lovely and intelligent person with a real knack for public speaking. And do you know what? He has been unfairly attacked. I don’t think anyone in this contest can be justifiably labelled a “red Tory”. But whenever I see someone use that phrase in regard to Burnham, I wonder if they’ve seen him in the House of Commons, defending our NHS, defending the people that Jeremy Hunt is failing, demanding that the health secretary explain himself for the sake of those people. And I’m genuinely shocked when people accuse him of not belonging to a party that he has been fighting for since day one. Corbyn wouldn’t think it was in any way acceptable to call Burnham or any of the other candidates “red Tories”, and I only wish that some of his supporters saw it the same way.

I’m not saying that you must vote for Burnham or disaster will ensue, because I think we need to respect the decisions people make in this contest and the reasons they have for making them; I’m just letting you know that I certainly will be voting for him.

And no, I still can’t come up with anything better than “fandy”.