 On 23 May , former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock announced that he would endorse Ed Miliband 's campaign , saying that he had " the capacity to inspire people " and that he had " strong values and the ability to ' lift ' people " . Other senior Labour figures who backed the younger Miliband included Tony Benn and former Deputy Leaders Roy Hattersley and Margaret Beckett . By 9 June , the deadline for entry into the leadership election , Miliband had been nominated by just over 24 % of the Parliamentary Labour Party , double the amount required . By September , Miliband had received the support of six trade unions , including both Unite and UNISON , 151 of the 650 Constituency Labour Parties , three affiliated socialist societies , and half of Labour MEPs . 
