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I know for lots of you reading this, the ideal way to spend the summer might be lying on the beach or by the pool.

However, what I’m really excited about this summer is the chance to spend the weeks ahead going around the whole of Britain, listening to Labour members and supporters and talking to them about my radical vision to rebuild Britain.

As someone who is Labour to their boots, it’s a huge honour for me to enter in to this contest in an effort to unite the party I love.

Especially as it’s crystal clear that now - as much as at any time in our history - Britain needs a strong united opposition to take on this devastating Tory government.

Talking of the Tories, what a grim legacy David Cameron leaves behind - foodbank lines in the hundreds of thousands, wages frozen, support for working parents slashed, the Bedroom Tax and massive question marks hanging over our economy following Brexit.

(Image: Getty)

I’ve no doubt that things will get even worse under the new Prime Minister.

So we need a strong, passionate and effective opposition that can stand up to that threat in every community across the country.

I’ve shown that I am the right person for that job.

Beating back the Tories’ threats to cut tax credits, taking on IDS week in week out in parliament and forcing them to drop cuts to disabled people.

Yet it’s not enough to just say that we oppose the Tories, we also have to show what Labour could do better.

That’s why I have set out big plans for a British New Deal.

That would be a £200billion pot of money dedicated to rebuilding our country.

(Image: GETTY)

Investing in building homes, renewing our transport links, schools and hospitals, as well as Sure Start centres, and care for older people.

Under my leadership, I would rewrite Clause 4 of the Labour Party rule book, to make sure that every policy we bring forward would focused relentlessly on reducing the gap between rich and poor.

While I’ll also push for a War Powers Act, which will make sure that any PM who wants Britain to use military force can guarantee it is a last resort.

So as this race kicks off, I make a promise to Mirror readers.

Watch this space, because over the coming weeks you can expect an exciting, energetic and positive campaign.

That will not only offer you hope for the future of the Labour Party, but a real chance for the Labour government we all so desperately want and need.