Claim Labour leadership vote just a soap

Ed Balls - he thinks the race for Labour leader is like a TV soap

Hollyoaks, EastEnders... the Labour Leadership race. Spot the one that isn't a soap?

Apparently they all are, according to one of the men who wants to win that race.

It's one of the most important jobs in politics, but Ed Balls reckons the contest to replace Gordon Brown has become like a TV drama: "We've had a daily soap opera of one Miliband brother or the other" he told the BBC.

He thinks that there's been too much focus on David and Ed Miliband. They are brothers and, if you believe the opinion polls, they are the front runners who are fighting it out.

Ed Balls went on to say: "I think what the public wants to know is do we have plans to deal with the big issues of our time."

Leadership favourites Ed (right) and David Miliband

start voting

Thousands of members are just about to start voting for the person who will lead the fight against the coalition government.

There are three other contenders; Diane Abbott, Andy Burnham and Ed Balls.

But the Milibands have dominated this four month contest so far. It looks likely one of them will win.

Each is offering a distinctly different view of what to do next - after that election defeat back in May.

David wants to reach out to those floating voters - like Tony Blair did.

Ed is more of a traditional Labour man - he rejects some of what they did during those 13 years in power.

Labour party members, MPs and Lords and millions of trades union members can vote.

old guard

The complex system means it is hard to predict who will come out on top though. The result will be announced at the end of September.

As the contest enters the final weeks, some of the old guard have come out fighting.

But the most significant intervention could come tomorrow (1 September) when former PM Tony Blair gives a major interview.

It's the first since he left office three years ago. He's expected to hint that David Miliband could be the person for the job.