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| Deputy hopefuls make their case | Deputy hopefuls make their case |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The six MPs hoping to be next Labour leader Gordon Brown's deputy have been setting out their credentials at the first hustings of the race. | The six MPs hoping to be next Labour leader Gordon Brown's deputy have been setting out their credentials at the first hustings of the race. |
| Five already had the 45 nominations needed to get on the ballot. The BBC understands that Hilary Benn, who had been three short, now also has enough. | |
| All six were quizzed by Labour activists on issues from ethnic minority shortlists to grammar schools. | All six were quizzed by Labour activists on issues from ethnic minority shortlists to grammar schools. |
| Current deputy leader John Prescott stands down with Tony Blair on 27 June. | |
| Mr Brown earlier gained enough support to become leader unopposed, prompting his sole rival to admit defeat. | Mr Brown earlier gained enough support to become leader unopposed, prompting his sole rival to admit defeat. |
| Nominations for the leadership and deputy leadership close at 1230 BST, when Mr Brown is expected to make a statement. | Nominations for the leadership and deputy leadership close at 1230 BST, when Mr Brown is expected to make a statement. |
| McDonnell concedes | McDonnell concedes |
| On Wednesday his left wing rival John McDonnell admitted it was "mathematically impossible" for him to gain enough nominations to challenge Mr Brown. | On Wednesday his left wing rival John McDonnell admitted it was "mathematically impossible" for him to gain enough nominations to challenge Mr Brown. |
| Attention will now shift to the contest to be Mr Brown's deputy. | Attention will now shift to the contest to be Mr Brown's deputy. |
| Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Justice Minister Harriet Harman, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, party chairman Hazel Blears and backbencher Jon Cruddas all have more than the required 45 backers. | Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Justice Minister Harriet Harman, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, party chairman Hazel Blears and backbencher Jon Cruddas all have more than the required 45 backers. |
| Mr Benn, the international development secretary, has 42 listed on the Labour Party website, but the BBC understands he has now reached 45. | |
| At the hustings event on Wednesday evening, each potential candidate made a short speech making their case, before taking a series of questions from the audience. | At the hustings event on Wednesday evening, each potential candidate made a short speech making their case, before taking a series of questions from the audience. |
| I think there's a whole section of our party that is very disengaged...unless we bring people back together we will not win." Peter Hain | I think there's a whole section of our party that is very disengaged...unless we bring people back together we will not win." Peter Hain |
| Topics included Iraq, electoral reform, faith schools, women voters and encouraging more people to join trade unions. | Topics included Iraq, electoral reform, faith schools, women voters and encouraging more people to join trade unions. |
| Mr Cruddas, the only backbencher in the race, said there was a need to separate out the roles of deputy leader and deputy prime minister - both currently held by Mr Prescott. | Mr Cruddas, the only backbencher in the race, said there was a need to separate out the roles of deputy leader and deputy prime minister - both currently held by Mr Prescott. |
| He also said he had a "big problem" with the government's flagship City academies, saying areas that refused to have one were being starved of cash. | He also said he had a "big problem" with the government's flagship City academies, saying areas that refused to have one were being starved of cash. |
| 'Campaigner in chief' | 'Campaigner in chief' |
| Ms Blears, who is currently Labour's chairman, stressed her ability to galvanise activists, saying deputy leader was not a "weekend job" and that she intended to be the party's "campaigner in chief" | Ms Blears, who is currently Labour's chairman, stressed her ability to galvanise activists, saying deputy leader was not a "weekend job" and that she intended to be the party's "campaigner in chief" |
| "It's going to be a full time job to get us to win that next election," she said. | "It's going to be a full time job to get us to win that next election," she said. |
| Ms Harman said, as a woman, from the south of England, she would make a good team with Gordon Brown as leader. | Ms Harman said, as a woman, from the south of England, she would make a good team with Gordon Brown as leader. |
| "We already know the leader is going to be a man, do we really need another man to be deputy leader? Labour is a party of equality." | "We already know the leader is going to be a man, do we really need another man to be deputy leader? Labour is a party of equality." |
| DEPUTY CONTEST SUPPORT Hilary Benn - 42Hazel Blears - 49 Jon Cruddas - 46Peter Hain - 50Harriet Harman - 63 Alan Johnson - 70 Benn close to entry Brown on brink of leadership | DEPUTY CONTEST SUPPORT Hilary Benn - 42Hazel Blears - 49 Jon Cruddas - 46Peter Hain - 50Harriet Harman - 63 Alan Johnson - 70 Benn close to entry Brown on brink of leadership |
| Mr Johnson, who currently has the most support from Labour MPs, with 70 nominations, said the party needed to turn a fresh, invigorated face towards the public and needed a better dialogue with trade unions. | Mr Johnson, who currently has the most support from Labour MPs, with 70 nominations, said the party needed to turn a fresh, invigorated face towards the public and needed a better dialogue with trade unions. |
| He said that trade unions had felt they were treated like "embarrassing elderly relatives" during Labour's first term. "That has to stop," he said. | He said that trade unions had felt they were treated like "embarrassing elderly relatives" during Labour's first term. "That has to stop," he said. |
| And Mr Benn, who is trailing the others and still needs three votes to get onto the ballot paper, said he would like to see an end to "yah boo" politics, which he said turned voters - particularly women - off. | And Mr Benn, who is trailing the others and still needs three votes to get onto the ballot paper, said he would like to see an end to "yah boo" politics, which he said turned voters - particularly women - off. |
| Mr Hain said Labour's biggest challenge was regaining voters' trust and reconnecting with the grass roots of the party. | Mr Hain said Labour's biggest challenge was regaining voters' trust and reconnecting with the grass roots of the party. |
| "I think there's a whole section of our party that is very disengaged... unless we bring people back together we will not win." | "I think there's a whole section of our party that is very disengaged... unless we bring people back together we will not win." |
| The winner of the ballot, decided by party members, trade unionists and MPs and European Parliament members, will be announced on 24 June. | |