Labour leadership: McDonnell secures support
By politics.co.uk staff
John McDonnell has secured his first backers in his bid to become Labour leader.
Candidates need to get the backing of 33 MPs before June 9th to enter the race.
Mr McDonnell, a habitual rebel on the left of the party, is being backed by Frank Field, Kate Hoey and Dai Havard.
David Miliband now leads the pack with 51 confirmed backers, while his brother Ed is in second place with 47 backers.
Ed Balls, Gordon Brown’s right hand man during his time in the Treasury and No 10, has 24 nominations while Andy Burnham, former health secretary, has 14.
Diane Abbott has no confirmed backers.
