Britain’s opposition Labour Party pits brother against brother as it elects new leader

UK’s opposition Labour Party announces new leader

LONDON — Britain’s Labour Party is announcing its new leader following a brother-versus-brother battle to replace the ousted ex-prime minister Gordon Brown.

Ex-foreign secretary David Miliband, 45, and his younger brother Ed, the 40-year-old former climate change secretary, are judged to be neck and neck in the race following a ballot of legislators, party activists and about 3.5 million members of affiliated labor unions.

Three other candidates have also competed in the contest to replace Brown, who quit in May after Labour trailed second in a national election and was removed from office after 13 years.

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock said on Saturday he believed Ed Miliband had likely won the contest.