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Cruddas close to entering contest Benn short of deputy bid backers
(20 minutes later)
Jon Cruddas is just one short of the 45 nominations needed to run for Labour's deputy leader. Cabinet minister Hilary Benn is still 11 nominations short of the minimum required to formally enter the Labour deputy leadership race.
The only backbench deputy leadership hopeful has 44 backers and hopes to pick up more later, his camp said. Mr Benn, a one-time bookies' favourite, has 34 backers but needs 45 by Thursday lunchtime to get on to the ballot.
The six potential candidates must get the support of 45 MPs by Thursday lunchtime to enter the formal contest. Four have enough. Hilary Benn has 34. Four other frontbench contenders have more than 45, with Alan Johnson leading the field on 64 so far.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson, who launched his campaign earlier, has the most nominations so far, with 64. Backbencher Jon Cruddas has 44 nominations but his team say he is confident of reaching 45 by Wednesday.
The figures were revealed on the Labour Party website on Tuesday evening. Mr Benn had been seen as the frontrunner to land the deputy's job, attracting support from across Labour's political spectrum from former Cabinet colleague David Blunkett to veteran left-winger Dennis Skinner.
BBC political correspondent James Landale said the Cruddas camp said they expected to reach 45 backers by Wednesday. A recent YouGov poll of more than 1,000 Labour Party members and trade unionists gave the international development secretary a 14 point lead.
DEPUTY CONTEST SUPPORT Hilary Benn - 34Hazel Blears - 48 MPsJon Cruddas - 44Peter Hain - 49Harriet Harman - 60 MPs Alan Johnson - 64 MPs Benn 'confident'
So far four hopefuls have at least 45 backers: Mr Johnson; Justice Minister Harriet Harman; Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain; and party chairman Hazel Blears. But he faces a battle over the next two days to gain enough support from Labour colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) to enter the race, with 53 MPs yet to declare their hand.
According to the latest figures the sixth hopeful, Hilary Benn, has 34 nominations. Mr Benn said: "I am really pleased with the strong support I have received so far from across the PLP and the Party.
Earlier Mr Johnson said he could be the "unity" candidate and said he was backed by 64 MPs, including the current deputy leader John Prescott. DEPUTY CONTEST SUPPORT Hilary Benn - 34Hazel Blears - 48 Jon Cruddas - 44Peter Hain - 49Harriet Harman - 60 Alan Johnson - 64
"This election will be the first opportunity Party members have had to select a new leadership team when Labour is in government.
"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."
The four deputy leadership hopefuls with more than 45 backers are: Mr Johnson; Justice Minister Harriet Harman; Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain; and party chairman Hazel Blears.
Earlier Mr Johnson launched his campaign, saying he could be the "unity" candidate and said he was backed by 64 MPs, including the current deputy leader John Prescott.
'Force for unity''Force for unity'
Mr Johnson said: "I think I'm the right person at this time for this leader to be the deputy. I believe I've got the skills. I believe I've got the experience.Mr Johnson said: "I think I'm the right person at this time for this leader to be the deputy. I believe I've got the skills. I believe I've got the experience.
"I believe I've got the background to enhance and complement Gordon's enormous appeal to the electorate. I can be a force for unity.""I believe I've got the background to enhance and complement Gordon's enormous appeal to the electorate. I can be a force for unity."
The education secretary is backing Mr Brown's bid to be Labour leader and prime minister. The education secretary is backing Gordon Brown's bid to be Labour leader and prime minister.
Mr Johnson (left) says he would work well with Gordon Brown I am not going to support any candidate. It is up to them to prove to the rest of the party how they will do it Gordon Brown
But he said the winner of the deputy leadership contest should not necessarily become deputy prime minister - Mr Prescott holds both roles.But he said the winner of the deputy leadership contest should not necessarily become deputy prime minister - Mr Prescott holds both roles.
Later Mr Johnson, a former postman, told the BBC he would be a good partner for Mr Brown because of the differences in their background - in much the same way Mr Prescott was for Tony Blair. Mr Brown, the clear favourite to succeed Mr Blair, would not be drawn on his preferred candidate for the deputy leadership.
"We come from different parts of the country; we left school at the earliest age we could, but Gordon to go off to university because he was so bright at aged 16, me to go and stack shelves at Tesco when I was 15," Mr Johnson said. He told the BBC earlier: "I am not going to support any candidate. It is up to them to prove to the rest of the party how they will do it," he said.
"I had a family early; he started a family late. I brought up three kids on a council estate.
"I was a postman for many years, I had a background in the trade union movement - a completely different route to Gordon's."
The Labour Party will give its first figures on nominations at 1800 BST on Thursday, updating the figures twice daily.
There are 352 Labour MPs, meaning all six candidates could get through to the national ballot.There are 352 Labour MPs, meaning all six candidates could get through to the national ballot.
The winner, decided by party members, trade unionists and MPs and European Parliament members, will be announced on 24 June.The winner, decided by party members, trade unionists and MPs and European Parliament members, will be announced on 24 June.