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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Deputy contenders claim support | Deputy contenders claim support |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two contenders to be Labour deputy leader have said they have the backing of 45 MPs needed to enter the contest. | Two contenders to be Labour deputy leader have said they have the backing of 45 MPs needed to enter the contest. |
| Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he had 48 votes, while Harriet Harman said she had more than enough supporters. | Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he had 48 votes, while Harriet Harman said she had more than enough supporters. |
| Alan Johnson and Hazel Blears are also thought likely to have the necessary backing of 45 Labour MPs. | Alan Johnson and Hazel Blears are also thought likely to have the necessary backing of 45 Labour MPs. |
| Jon Cruddas says he is confident he will be on the ballot paper. Hilary Benn has yet to declare his backing in the race to succeed John Prescott. | Jon Cruddas says he is confident he will be on the ballot paper. Hilary Benn has yet to declare his backing in the race to succeed John Prescott. |
| The post will become vacant when Mr Prescott stands down about the same time as PM Tony Blair goes on 27 June. | The post will become vacant when Mr Prescott stands down about the same time as PM Tony Blair goes on 27 June. |
| 'I'm the first' | 'I'm the first' |
| Mr Hain said he was pleased to get such support as it was not possible - mathematically speaking - for all six declared contenders to get on the ballot paper. | Mr Hain said he was pleased to get such support as it was not possible - mathematically speaking - for all six declared contenders to get on the ballot paper. |
| "I'm very grateful indeed to parliamentary colleagues who've put me there. Because you need to win at least that proportion to actually be in the contest, and I'm the first able to say that I'm in that contest," he told BBC News 24. | "I'm very grateful indeed to parliamentary colleagues who've put me there. Because you need to win at least that proportion to actually be in the contest, and I'm the first able to say that I'm in that contest," he told BBC News 24. |
| Mr Hain said the deputy leadership position, which John Prescott has held for 13 years, including 10 years as deputy prime minister, should "bind" the government with backbenchers, the party at large and the country, but admitted that it was up to the next Labour Party leader to decide on the specific tasks. | Mr Hain said the deputy leadership position, which John Prescott has held for 13 years, including 10 years as deputy prime minister, should "bind" the government with backbenchers, the party at large and the country, but admitted that it was up to the next Labour Party leader to decide on the specific tasks. |
| He addressed constituents in Neath later, saying: "I am standing for the deputy leadership because I believe that in order to win the next election, Labour must reconnect the leadership of the party with grassroots members and trade unionists, reach out to those in society we have lost touch with, and rebuild the progressive coalition which secured us two landslide victories." | |
| Cabinet support | Cabinet support |
| Ms Harman's team said among her supporters were the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, and Europe Minister Geoff Hoon. | Ms Harman's team said among her supporters were the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, and Europe Minister Geoff Hoon. |
| "I am very encouraged by the backing I have got to be part of the leadership team," she said. | "I am very encouraged by the backing I have got to be part of the leadership team," she said. |
| Heavyweight support for Mr Benn includes the Justice Secretary Lord Falconer and chief secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms. | Heavyweight support for Mr Benn includes the Justice Secretary Lord Falconer and chief secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms. |
| Home Secretary John Reid's spokesman said he was backing Ms Blears, with Pensions Secretary John Hutton also behind her. | Home Secretary John Reid's spokesman said he was backing Ms Blears, with Pensions Secretary John Hutton also behind her. |
| Mr Cruddas told the BBC he was confident he would have enough support to enter the official contest - he said his campaign was backed by the UK's biggest union, Unite. | Mr Cruddas told the BBC he was confident he would have enough support to enter the official contest - he said his campaign was backed by the UK's biggest union, Unite. |