LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has announced he will stand for election to become leader of the Labour Party.

The 45-year-old, who has served as the town's MP since 2001, has joined Chuka Umunna and Liz Kendall in announcing his candidacy for the leadership election, with others also expected to announce their intention to stand.

In a video message posted on his Twitter account, Mr Burnham, who also serves as the Shadow Health Secretary, said: "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, and that must always be about the aspirations of everyone."

The result of the election will be announced on Saturday, September 12.