Grant Robertson 7.05PM: Gay MP Grant Robertson has this evening confirmed his candidacy for the vacant leadership position of the Labour party. Nominations close at 10 o'clock tomorrow night. The leader is chosen by MPs, party, members and affiliated unions. The deputy leader is selected by the Labour caucus. Robertson's likely main opponent, David Cunliffe, has yet to formally confirm he is running for the position. As to whether his being gay will affect his chances of being selected to lead the party into the next general election, Robertson says people are more interested in the quality of schools, jobs and whether they had enough money to put food on the table Monday 26, 6.00AM: Shane Jones has just confirmed his candidacy for the leadership position. Jones has several times been mired in controversy whilst an MP but political observers believe he may be able to create a constituency from Labour supporters who would like to see the party become less 'PC' and more representative of its historical working class roots. Monday 26, 2.00PM: David Cunliffe has now confirmed his candidacy. After the 10.pm close-off this evening the campaigning for the job is set down for a two-week period with the election scheduled for September 15th.