JUST over a week remains until the country finds out which Labour MP will be tasked with the job of leading the party back into power.

Culcheth man Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Jeremy Corbyn are all bidding to be announced as leader on September 12.

Mr Corbyn remains as favourite to claim victory with Betfred, which has its head office in Birchwood, but Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands (LAB – Poulton North) believes councillors in the town are apprehensive over publicly backing the Islington North MP.

"There is an element of fear of some people coming out saying they support Mr Corbyn, I have witnessed this both outside of Warrington and in Warrington," he said.

"It is a real shame that some members, including councillors, are afraid to speak out – I did not get into politics to keep quiet."

But the 31-year-old believes it is imperative for whoever is announced as leader to receive the backing from all Labour supporters across the country.

"Me and my wife are members and have voted – one of us has voted for Yvette Cooper and one for Jeremy Corbyn," he added.

"But whoever wins will have my backing, just like I backed Ed Miliband 100 per cent.

"The biggest fear I have is the fallout we could have.

"We need to get behind the leader because they would have gone through the proper process to get to that stage."

Labour's Warrington South spokesman Nick Bent is anticipating a tight finish to the race but is eyeing a positive future for the party, both in the town and at national level.

"Overall we're really pleased with the interest generated by the leadership race and the hustings event at Parr Hall and we have over 300 new members and supporters," he said.

"Locally we're a diverse group and we've had a passionate and open debate, but we're all united on this one thing – to win the council elections in May and to win back the Warrington South parliamentary seat from the Tories in 2020 and to elect a Labour Government that will make Britain a more prosperous, more fair and more united country."

Despite fears of non-Labour supporters 'infiltrating' the vote, Josh Booth, chairman of Warrington Young Labour is confident the outcome of the battle on September 12 will be a fair one.

"It's true that there are voters who don't have Labour's best interests at heart but these numbers are minute," he said.

"Conversely, if the result is affected by hundreds of thousands of people who are inspired by a candidate and who's intentions are honest, then I say that's a victory for democracy and a victory for Labour."