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Brown rival 'to fight to the end' Brown on brink of leadership win
(about 1 hour later)
Chancellor Gordon Brown's only rival for the Labour leadership has promised to "play until the whistle" in his attempt to get enough support to stand. Gordon Brown is just one nomination short of the amount needed to become the next Labour leader and prime minister without a contest.
Left-winger John McDonnell has picked up the backing of 29 MPs, 16 fewer than the 45 needed to get onto the ballot. The latest figures show Mr Brown has 307 nominations while his sole rival, left-winger John McDonnell, has 29 - 16 short of the 45 backers required.
As things stand Mr Brown, with 297 nominations, will become leader and PM unopposed when Tony Blair stands down. Mr McDonnell has until 1230 BST on Thursday to reach 45, if he fails, Mr Brown will become leader unopposed.
But Mr McDonnell, who has until 1230 BST on Thursday to get 45 backers, made a "last-minute appeal" for support. He would need all the remaining 16 MPs to back him, to reach that figure.
Only 27 Labour MPs have yet to nominate. According to BBC research, at least four of these are planning to support Mr Brown and three plan not to nominate anyone. Earlier Mr McDonnell said he would "play until the whistle" to get sufficient support.
'Difficult' But of the MPs yet to nominate, some have said they will back Mr Brown, while others that they will not vote at all.
That leaves Mr McDonnell needing 16 from the remaining 20 to nominate him. DEPUTY CONTEST SUPPORT Hilary Benn - 42 MPsHazel Blears - 49 MPsJon Cruddas - 46 MPsPeter Hain - 50 MPsHarriet Harman - 63 MPs Alan Johnson - 70 MPs class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6658307.stm">Benn short of backers
He admitted that "at the moment" it looked as if party members were going to be denied a choice between him and Mr Brown. BBC research suggests once Mr Brown reaches 308 votes, there will not be sufficient backers remaining to allow Mr McDonnell to reach 45.
Mr McDonnell's spokesman said: "A large number have backed Gordon Brown, which obviously makes it difficult for us. International Development Secretary Hilary Benn needs three more nominations to reach the 45 needed to enter the race to be deputy leader.
The other five contenders have already reached that threshold.
Mr McDonnell earlier made a "last-minute appeal" for support, admitting that "at the moment" it looked as if party members were going to be denied a choice between him and Mr Brown.
I'm going out to get as many nominations as possible because I believe that is what someone who's putting their name forward for leadership should do Gordon Brown Contender-by-contender Labour contest timetableI'm going out to get as many nominations as possible because I believe that is what someone who's putting their name forward for leadership should do Gordon Brown Contender-by-contender Labour contest timetable
"But there are still a number of MPs to play for." He told MPs: "Year in year out we rely on Labour Party members to deliver our leaflets, knock on doors, and fund the party with their small subscriptions and yet they will be excluded from participating in this election unless Labour MPs nominate me in the next 24 hours."
Later in a final appeals to MPs Mr McDonnell said: "Year in year out we rely on Labour Party members to deliver our leaflets, knock on doors, and fund the party with their small subscriptions and yet they will be excluded from participating in this election unless Labour MPs nominate me in the next 24 hours."
'Trading process''Trading process'
Candidates who get 45 or more nominations go to a ballot of party members, trade unionists and Labour MPs and European Parliament members.Candidates who get 45 or more nominations go to a ballot of party members, trade unionists and Labour MPs and European Parliament members.
Among Labour MPs who have not yet nominated a leadership candidate is Dai Havard, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.Among Labour MPs who have not yet nominated a leadership candidate is Dai Havard, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme he was unhappy by what he called the "trading process" between the McDonnell camp and deputy leadership hopeful Hilary Benn's camp.He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme he was unhappy by what he called the "trading process" between the McDonnell camp and deputy leadership hopeful Hilary Benn's camp.
"I was interested in supporting a left candidate, but not at any price," he said."I was interested in supporting a left candidate, but not at any price," he said.
He had intended to back Michael Meacher, the other potential left-wing candidate, who stood aside so he and Mr McDonnell could pool their support.He had intended to back Michael Meacher, the other potential left-wing candidate, who stood aside so he and Mr McDonnell could pool their support.
DEPUTY CONTEST SUPPORT Hilary Benn - 40 MPsHazel Blears - 49 MPsJon Cruddas - 46 MPsPeter Hain - 50 MPsHarriet Harman - 61 MPs Alan Johnson - 68 MPs Benn short of backersDEPUTY CONTEST SUPPORT Hilary Benn - 40 MPsHazel Blears - 49 MPsJon Cruddas - 46 MPsPeter Hain - 50 MPsHarriet Harman - 61 MPs Alan Johnson - 68 MPs Benn short of backers
But Mr Havard added: "I'm not a stage army to be wheeled on and off by anybody, frankly. I'll make my own decisions."But Mr Havard added: "I'm not a stage army to be wheeled on and off by anybody, frankly. I'll make my own decisions."
In the deputy leadership contest, in which there are six candidates, only International Development Secretary Hilary Benn - with 40 nominations - has yet to get through to the national ballot.In the deputy leadership contest, in which there are six candidates, only International Development Secretary Hilary Benn - with 40 nominations - has yet to get through to the national ballot.
He said: "I know that members want the chance to choose from among all the candidates who have put themselves forward for deputy leader, and I am very confident that I will be on the ballot."
Backbencher Jon Cruddas, Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Justice Minister Harriet Harman, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Labour chairman Hazel Blears have all got through.Backbencher Jon Cruddas, Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Justice Minister Harriet Harman, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Labour chairman Hazel Blears have all got through.
It is thought 38 Labour MPs have yet to nominate a deputy leadership contender.It is thought 38 Labour MPs have yet to nominate a deputy leadership contender.
Those candidates who make it on to either ballot paper will take part in 10 hustings around the country ahead of a special conference in Manchester on 24 June, when the new leader and deputy leader will be named.Those candidates who make it on to either ballot paper will take part in 10 hustings around the country ahead of a special conference in Manchester on 24 June, when the new leader and deputy leader will be named.
Mr Blair and deputy Labour leader John Prescott will hand over on 27 June.Mr Blair and deputy Labour leader John Prescott will hand over on 27 June.