We're all socialists, say leadership rivals

The candidates all agreed with the label, which arguably would have been seen as a damaging admission to make under New Labour. And they called on the party to focus on the future and move on from the years under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

In the debate they all stressed Labour still had much to learn from its defeat in the recent general election.

Shadow Education Secretary Ed Balls said: “We have go to get back on people’s sides...if we get that right we can win again.”

Andy Burnham, the Shadow Health Secretary, warned Labour had become “dangerously disconnected” with ordinary people.

Ed Miliband stressed the party needed to reach out to middle and lower income voters.