Former UK foreign secretary David Miliband became the first to enter the race to replace Gordon Brown as leader of the Labour Party, now in opposition after 13 years in power.
"I will be a candidate in that election," Mr Miliband (44) told reporters outside the Houses of Parliament in London today.
Caretaker party leader Harriet Harman told Labour MPs and peers today that the party will be “powerful” in opposition, as they met for the first time since being ousted from power.
Ms Harman also paid tribute to Gordon Brown as she addressed survivors and newcomers at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Highlighting advances in education, the NHS and elderly care, Ms Harman told the party: “His legacy, our legacy will endure.”
Labour’s deputy leader took the reins after Mr Brown announced his resignation as prime minister and party leader yesterday.
A timetable to find his successor will be put in place over the coming days, but Ms Harman - who has ruled herself out of the leadership contest - will head the party until then.
Addressing MPs and Peers in a meeting described as “positive and optimistic”, a Labour spokeswoman said Ms Harman had told them: “Never let us forget his legacy, our legacy.
“With great dignity Gordon Brown resigned the leadership of the Labour Party last night, but his legacy, our legacy will endure. For now we are in opposition. We will be gracious about this, we will be a responsible opposition and we will be an effective opposition. Though we are in opposition, we will be a powerful opposition.”
Earlier, former defence secretary Bob Ainsworth suggested he may back Mr Miliband, telling the Press Association: “I have worked very closely with David in our previous briefs and I have been impressed with him.”
But he pledged to evaluate every candidate and examine what “contribution” they could make, adding: “I may even nominate somebody who I am not going to vote for, to ensure that we have an open contest.” Mr Ainsworth also called for a swift process.
Former schools secretary Ed Balls is thought to taking his time before deciding whether to stand, while Jon Cruddas - a potential standard-bearer for the left - is actively considering a leadership bid. Other possible candidates include Mr Miliband’s brother Ed, former health secretary Andy Burnham and party “greybeard” Jack Straw.
However, former home secretary Alan Johnson was among a raft of MPs who ruled themselves out of standing, along with former work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper, former Wales secretary Peter Hain and former communities secretary John Denham.
Ms Harman urged her party to support their chosen candidates but be “generous to the others," adding: “This is a contest within a team,” she told them.
Agencies