This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6712781.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Local Labour parties 'back Benn' | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hilary Benn is the most popular deputy leadership contender among local Labour parties, figures suggest. | |
| Mr Benn came top of the six contenders after the formal close of nominations with the backing of 77 constituency parties, with Jon Cruddas next on 68. | Mr Benn came top of the six contenders after the formal close of nominations with the backing of 77 constituency parties, with Jon Cruddas next on 68. |
| Harriet Harman got 60, Alan Johnson 44, Hazel Blears 36 and Peter Hain 23. | Harriet Harman got 60, Alan Johnson 44, Hazel Blears 36 and Peter Hain 23. |
| The figures could offer a guide to the strength of support in the ballot of party members, MPs, MEPs and trade unionists which starts next week. | The figures could offer a guide to the strength of support in the ballot of party members, MPs, MEPs and trade unionists which starts next week. |
| The winner will be announced at a special Labour conference on 24 June. | The winner will be announced at a special Labour conference on 24 June. |
| In total, 308 local Labour executive committees - fewer than half the total number - said they backed one deputy leadership candidate over the others. | |
| The nomination figures also show Chancellor Gordon Brown received 407 nominations from local parties, out of a possible 633, for the Labour leadership. | The nomination figures also show Chancellor Gordon Brown received 407 nominations from local parties, out of a possible 633, for the Labour leadership. |
| Wide open | Wide open |
| The party claimed this was an "unprecedented" level of support for a would-be leader, with the 1994 leadership elections seeing just 109 nominations cast by local parties in total. | The party claimed this was an "unprecedented" level of support for a would-be leader, with the 1994 leadership elections seeing just 109 nominations cast by local parties in total. |
| Peter Watt, Labour's general secretary, said: "Not only are hundreds of members attending each of our hustings but across the country local activists in 407 constituencies have attended selection meetings and have chosen to nominate Gordon Brown. | Peter Watt, Labour's general secretary, said: "Not only are hundreds of members attending each of our hustings but across the country local activists in 407 constituencies have attended selection meetings and have chosen to nominate Gordon Brown. |
| "The message coming out of all those meetings is clear: Labour Party members have united behind Gordon Brown as the man to lead our Party and our country." | "The message coming out of all those meetings is clear: Labour Party members have united behind Gordon Brown as the man to lead our Party and our country." |
| Mr Brown has already received enough nominations from MPs to rule out a challenge from left wing rival John McDonnell and will be crowned leader without a contest. | Mr Brown has already received enough nominations from MPs to rule out a challenge from left wing rival John McDonnell and will be crowned leader without a contest. |
| But the deputy contest is still thought by most pundits to be wide open, with Mr Benn and Mr Johnson trading places as favourite at the bookmakers. | But the deputy contest is still thought by most pundits to be wide open, with Mr Benn and Mr Johnson trading places as favourite at the bookmakers. |
| Mr Cruddas, the only backbencher in the contest, won the first televised debate on Tuesday, according to a poll on Newsnight's website, followed by Harriet Harman and Alan Johnson. | Mr Cruddas, the only backbencher in the contest, won the first televised debate on Tuesday, according to a poll on Newsnight's website, followed by Harriet Harman and Alan Johnson. |