Deputy leadership contender, Hilary Benn, has said he wants to hear what local councillors have to say. Speaking to localgov.co.uk sister title The MJ this week, Mr Benn pledged to talk to Labour leaders on their views, if he gets elected as second in command to Gordon Brown. He said: ‘I want to sit down with Labour councillors and listen.' The son of Labour political giant, Tony Benn, Hilary Benn was an Ealing councillor for 20 years before he became MP for Leeds in 1999. The contenders for the deputy leadership job are Hilary Benn, Hazel Blears, Jon Cruddas, Peter Hain, Harriet Harman and Alan Johnson.
