Former President George W Bush has endorsed his younger brother Jeb for the Republican nomination in the 2016 election in the US. The controversial two-term president took to a South Carolina stage on 15 February and called on voters to reject front runner Donald Trump.

The 69-year-old Texan said: "There seems to be a lot of name-calling going on but I want to remind you what our good dad told me one time. Labels are for soup cans. The presidency is a serious job that requires sound judgement and good ideas. And there's no doubt in my mind that Jeb Bush has the experience and the character to be a great president."

He added: "Strength is not empty rhetoric. It is not bluster. It is not theatrics, real strength, strength of core purpose comes from integrity and character. And in my experience the strongest person usually isn't the loudest one in the room."

George W's record was attacked by Trump in the most recent Republican debate, with the media mogul criticising the 2003 Iraq War, and the infamous claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

Jeb Bush said: "I thought it was a little strange that a front-running candidate would attack the president of the United States who did keep us safe while he was building a reality TV show. I'm sure it was a fantastic one, I have never seen it. I'm sure it was great.

"George Bush brought together a team to build the security apparatus that to this day is one of the reasons why we haven't been attacked more often than we have. I'm proud of him and I know you are as well."

The older Bush brother remains popular in South Carolina, where his support may help Jeb in the latest vote in the Republican nominations. However, he remains a divisive figure nationally.

Jeb's campaign is yet to really ignite, with him coming in sixth place in in the Iowa caucuses and fourth in the New Hampshire primary. He is currently polling in fourth position, behind Trump, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio.

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