Labour leadership race: The road to the election

May 10 Gordon Brown steps down as party leader 12 David Miliband announces he will stand 14 Ed Miliband formally enters the race 19 Ed Balls and John McDonnell both launch leadership bids 20 Diane Abbott announces her surprise bid, followed quickly by Andy Burnham 24 Ed Miliband becomes the first candidate to receive enough nominations to get on to the ballot June 9 McDonnell withdraws from the contest to make way for fellow leftwinger Abbott. David Miliband transfers his nomination to Abbott, giving her enough nominations to enter the race for real, alongside himself, his brother, Balls and Burnham 16 Ed Miliband wins support of the GMB union, which then donates £28,000 to his war chest 20 England and Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher backs Burnham, and pledges £10,000 to his campaign 24 Ed Miliband wins the backing of Unite, the UK's biggest trade union August 7 Ed Miliband claims his mother is going to vote for Abbott, rather than chose between her two sons. He later claims he was joking 11 Jack Straw endorses Miliband Sr 20 David Miliband is mocked for a leaflet titled 'So you've decided to hold a house meeting for David', which tells his supporters to vacuum their living rooms before letting guests in 23 Burnham launches his leadership manifesto which pledges commitment to ' aspirational socialism ' 24 Ed Miliband invites disillusioned Lib Dems to join the Labour party 26 Influential backbencher Jon Cruddas says he is voting for David Miliband September 1 Balloting begins 25 Result announced