ONE of the candidates to become Labour's next leader will visit Southampton tonight.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham will speak to Labour Party members and supporters at the Civic Centre at 7pm.

He has already won the support of Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead and polled 22 votes in the Test Constituency Labour Party vote last week, the same as leftwing candidate Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Burnham, a Government minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is competing with Islington North MP Mr Corbyn, fellow former minister Yvette Cooper and Shadow Care Minister Liz Kendall.

The results of the election will be announced at a special conference on September 12.

Labour city councillor and cabinet member Dan Jeffery is organising Mr Burnham's campaign in Southampton.

He said: “I am delighted to welcome Andy Burnham to Southampton on Friday. It’s great that members and supporters will have the opportunity to meet, hear and ask Andy questions during his time with us.

“I believe Andy has the vision to unite the Labour Party and lead the opposition against the Tories. He also has the strength to get Labour back into government in 2020, and be a Prime Minister that will rebuild the country after ten years of Conservative rule.”