CONTENDERS for the Labour leadership visited Oxford to battle it out in front of party members.

Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper and Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall spoke at the Wesley Memorial Church in New Inn Hall Street.

They were introduced on Thursday evening by veteran Labour MP for Oxford East Andrew Smith, who was praised by Andy Burnham as “an example of a true campaigner, bringing the Labour message to the doorstep”.

The candidates were asked questions, submitted by members of Oxford Labour and by former parliamentary candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon Sally Copley.

Mr Burnham promised to remove the perception of Labour politicians being part of the “Westminster elite”.

Former Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper impressed the audience after talking about the need to safeguard women from domestic violence.

Oxfordshire county councillor for Witney South and Central Laura Price said: “It was incredibly impressive to see the leadership candidates in the flesh.

“I came here with an open mind, but I was very impressed by Yvette Cooper.”

Mr Corbyn’s pacifist views on the Middle-East conflict were well received by the crowd.

When asked whether she supported nuclear armament, Ms Kendall said she was “multilateralist”.