BRADFORD South MP Judith Cummins is backing Yvette Cooper to be the next Labour leader – describing her as “a prime minister-in-waiting”.

Revealing her choice, Mrs Cummins said it was vital that Labour picked someone with experience and gravitas, who could appeal “across the country”.

And she praised Ms Cooper for making better childcare a signature policy, saying: “That is hugely important to families in Bradford South.”

The new MP said: “Yvette is the candidate that I can see as being the next prime minister.

“When Labour has just lost a general election – and it was such a huge loss – there is a lot to turn around, so we’re looking for somebody who is a prime minister-in-waiting.

“We are also looking for somebody who can appeal right across the nation – in the North, the South and, crucially, in Scotland. And Yvette can take our message right across the country.”

Mrs Cummins is the first of Bradford’s three new Labour MPs to nominate a candidate to succeed Ed Miliband, who quit in the hours after the party’s election disaster.

Both Imran Hussain (Bradford East) and Naz Shah (Bradford West) say they are still mulling over who to back, in an election with 11 weeks still to run.

Andy Burnham, the former Health Secretary is the bookies’ and – almost certainly - the trade unions’ favourite and was first to clear the threshold of 35 endorsements from Labour MPs.

That has given him a significant lead over both Ms Cooper, fast-rising care spokeswoman Liz Kendall and left-winger Jeremy Corbyn.

A fifth candidate, international aid spokeswoman Mary Creagh, has only a handful of backers and is struggling to get in the race.

While Mr Burnham is viewed as the unions’ favourite, Ms Kendall is seen as the “change candidate”, while Ms Cooper has warned against lurching to either left or right.

The trades unions no longer enjoy a one-third share of an electoral college – but individual members can sign up to vote alongside full-paying party members and MPs.

Nominations opened this week, with voting to take place from August 14. The ballot closes on September 10, with the result declared two days later, at a special conference.

Mrs Cummins added: “Yvette appeals to women and to families with her plans for better, more affordable childcare, which is hugely important to families in Bradford South and to raising living standards.

“I think she has got a good chance – I have a great belief that the party will pick the best candidate.”