Andy Burnham 'confident' of enough support to enter Labour leadership race

Hustings: Andy Burnham got the backing of two more MPs today
10 April 2012
WEST END FINAL

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Andy Burnham was "within touching distance" of formally joining the Labour leadership race today as he and fellow outsiders made a last-ditch bid to persuade enough MPs to get them on the ballot.

With less than 24 hours to go until nominations close, the former health secretary was said by his campaign team to be "very confident" of getting the remaining backers needed.

Mr Burnham received the support of two more MPs today — Clive Betts and Heidi Alexander — leaving him eight nominations short of the 33 needed.

But Left-wingers Diane Abbott and John McDonnell were also hopeful of getting on the ballot as undecided Labour backbenchers came under huge pressure to make the contest as wide as possible.

In a significant move, Ed Balls's campaign signalled it did not need any more MPs for the process and supporters were free to nominate other contenders. With about 70 MPs yet to nominate anyone, their local constituency parties are pressing them to back the remaining hopefuls simply to ensure as much diversity as possible.

Some activists and local parties want to ensure that a woman is on the ballot, while others — particularly trade unions — want to give the Left a chance to be heard in the contest.

With some MPs holding back to support David and Ed Miliband, it is likely that if Mr Burnham gets on the ballot tonight there would be room for only one candidate from the Left of the party. Either Ms Abbott or Mr McDonnell would have to drop out and rally round the other. Nominations are set to close at 12.30pm tomorrow and it is still far from clear whether Ms Abbott will throw her support behind Mr McDonnell or vice versa.

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP has just eight backers so far, while Mr McDonnell has 10. Supporters of Ms Abbott were today urging Mr McDonnell to stand down.

Mr Burnham impressed colleagues at last night's hustings with an impassioned call for an end to the top-down management styles of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. "We are within touching distance of getting the MPs we need today," a source said.

Rotherham MP Denis MacShane, who is backing David Miliband, said today that he was sure Mr Burnham would receive enough nominations to get on the ballot paper. Mr MacShane told Radio 4's Today programme: "I think everybody wants to see Andy Burnham on the ballot paper. He made a very good impression yesterday."

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