I imagine you're working pretty hard just now, but in more relaxed times what does a typical weekend entail?

There might be a bit of work: canvassing or a visit in my constituency. I always try to see my family, who live on the south coast, and ideally go out with friends on a Saturday night. On Sunday I watch a bit of the politics programmes or a boxset, and lie on the sofa and recover.

A lot has been made of your love of rap music; what else do you listen to?

I listen to the brilliant Liza Tarbuck on Radio 2 on a Saturday night, when I'm getting ready to go out. And I downloaded a Ray LaMontagne album recently.

What's your first political memory?

My strongest was when we lost the 1992 election. The sheer anger: ranting at the television. My then-boyfriend looked at me and rolled his eyes and said, "Either shut up or do something about it." That's when I joined the Labour Party.

You grew up under the Thatcher government. Was it inspiring having a female Prime Minister?

No, it wasn't inspiring at all. Her politics of divide and rule were everything that I hated. This sense that some communities could be sacrificed – that's what really drove me. It felt immoral.

Labour leadership: The Contenders Show all 4 1 /4 Labour leadership: The Contenders Labour leadership: The Contenders Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn started off as the rank outsider in the race to replace Ed Miliband and admitted he was only standing to ensure the left of the party was given a voice in the contest. But the Islington North MP, who first entered Parliament in 1983, is now the firm favourite to be elected Labour leader on September 12 after a surge in left-wing supporters signing up for a vote. PA Labour leadership: The Contenders Liz Kendall Liz Kendall has been labelled the Blairite candidate throughout the contest, which partly explains why she has failed to attract the support needed in a party that has drifted even further from the centre-ground of British politics since the election. She has faced criticism over her relative lack of experience, having only served as an MP since 2010 and having no experience of ministerial or shadow cabinet roles. But that very lack of experience allowed her to initially make a pitch as the only candidate offering real change and a real break from the Blair/Brown/Miliband years, until Jeremy Corbyn entered the race and shifted the whole debate to the left. She is set to finish a disappointing fourth. PA Labour leadership: The Contenders Andy Burnham Andy Burnham started out as the front-runner in the leadership election, seen as the candidate of the left until Jeremy Corbyn entered the race. The former Cabinet minister has found himself squeezed between the growing populism of Corbyn’s radical agenda and the moderate, centre-left Yvette Cooper, not knowing which way to turn. It has attracted damaging labels such as ‘flip-flop Andy’, most notably over his response to the Government’s Welfare Bill. He remains hopeful he can win enough second preference votes to take him over the 50 per cent threshold ahead of Corbyn. PA Labour leadership: The Contenders Yvette Cooper.jpg Yvette Cooper has put her experience and achievements in government at the heart of her offer to the Labour party. She played a key part in setting up Sure Start in Tony Blair’s government and has pledged to continue her record on delivering for young families by promising a “revolution in the way families are supported” by introducing universal free childcare. She has also championed her role as a full-time working mother, taking pride in telling audiences that she does the school run for the kids before her day starts as a politician. But she has been criticised for being too wooden and lacking in passion and her attacks on Liz Kendall for “swallowing the Tory manifesto” at the start of the leadership contest have been criticised for helping Jeremy Corbyn brand all three mainstream candidates as ‘Tory-lite’. PA

Would you say she was as a feminist?

No, I never saw her as a feminist. I never saw her as someone who stood up for women. I felt that this kind of politics, where you write off people, was utterly wrong. That really started my interest in politics.

You went out with the comedian Greg Davies. He said that the political education he gained from you was "transformative". Would you say the same about him and comedy?

I wish some of his ability to make people laugh had rubbed off on me. Doing stand-up in front of arenas or clubs is something else; it's not a talent I have. What comedy do I like? I love Flight of the Conchords and the Mighty Boosh.

The Camerons are off to Cornwall and Portugal this summer, and we'll soon no doubt be seeing their holiday snaps. Is a politician's family life of legitimate concern to the electorate?

I'm asked a lot about my personal life and about Greg and I understand that interest. People want to know what you're like when you're not at work. It is completely legitimate. But you've got to keep something for yourself. Your loved ones don't choose to go into politics, you do.

So we'll be seeing your holiday pics?

Oh god, no! I am going to try to get away with my family. But I want to try to keep some of my private life private.

You recently admitted you smoked cannabis at university. Is it hypocritical for politicians to have taken drugs?

No. When I smoked, I had no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life. Can you imagine if it was like that: everything you're doing as you grow up you're wondering, "What is that going to mean if I ever end up being a politician?" You wouldn't have anybody except ruthlessly ambitious automatons going into politics.

Jeremy Corbyn has become an unlikely sex symbol. Should we be worried about his sexual objectification?

No, I think he's dealt with it with incredibly good grace.

Are you concerned that if Corbyn wins it could break up the Labour Party?

No, I don't think it would. I think that is really overblown. I really like Jeremy personally. I think his politics would be wrong for the party and the country, but I'd never quit the party I love and I don't think others would either.

If I was putting a tenner on the leadership contest, who should I put it on?

Me; I've got the best odds just now. You'd get a good return on your money.

Biography