UK: Labour crown in Brown's grasp

Gordon Brown will be acclaimed Labour leader elect and Britain’s next prime minister today, after his left-wing rival John McDonnell conceded defeat in the race for No. 10.

In a statement shortly after 8.30pm yesterday, Mr McDonnell accepted that it was “mathematically impossible” for him to secure the 45 nominations by Labour MPs needed to go forward as a candidate and force a contested election.

Mr Brown’s campaign manager Jack Straw said that he was “delighted” at the way the party had rallied round the chancellor.

He said that Mr Brown would be making a statement after the voting figures were formally announced, following the close of nominations at 12.30pm.

“We are delighted that the party is uniting behind Gordon and giving him such overwhelming support,” he said.

Mr McDonnell’s concession means that – barring some unforeseen event – the Labour crown he has so long coveted is now within Mr Brown’s grasp.

However, under Labour Party rules, he will not assume the leadership until the special leadership conference in Manchester on June 24.

He will have to wait another three days, until June 27 when Tony Blair tenders his resignation to the Queen, before he finally becomes prime minister.

The news that he would stand unopposed created a shift of power in Westminster, boosting Mr Brown’s standing and prompting calls for Mr Blair to justify why he is not handing over power immediately.

Mr McDonnell threw in the towel after Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay announced last night that he would be nominating Mr Brown, taking the Chancellor’s tally to 308 - enough to ensure he would avoid a contest.

By 6pm, Mr Brown had the nominations of the 307 of the 353 Labour MPs eligible to vote in the leadership election.

With deputy speaker Sylvia Heal having said that she will not nominate either contender, that left Mr Brown needing the backing of just one more MP.

In contrast, Mr McDonnell was stalled on 29 – 16 short of the total with only 16 yet to declare their nominations.

With Thurrock MP Mr Mackinlay’s announcement shortly before 8pm, the prospect of him closing the gap effectively vanished.

The leader of the left-wing campaign group offered his congratulations to the Chancellor while expressing disappointment that ordinary party members would not have their chance to express their views in a contested election.

“Naturally I congratulate Gordon and wish him every success in Government, but it is a great shame that Labour Party members will now not be allowed a vote on the leader of their party or the party’s future direction,” Mr McDonnell said.

“I am disappointed for all those Labour Party members who worked so had for the party campaigning to get us elected that they have been denied an opportunity of participating in a democratic election for the leader of this party.

“I had hoped by standing I would have given them a voice in this crucial decision.

“The demand from Labour Party members to debate the issues that confront our country will not go away and we will continue to campaign for a democratic say in that debate.”

Mr McDonnell had earlier issued a last-ditch appeal to Labour MPs to set aside his politics and give him their nominations in order to ensure there would be a contest, but it fell on deaf ears.

Despite the broad support for Mr Brown, there were still signs of dissent. Among those yet to nominate any candidate were the former home secretary Charles Clarke, who has clashed bitterly with the chancellor in the past branding.

In the deputy leadership race, Education Secretary Alan Johnson reaffirmed his position as the election favourite, with 70 nominations by last night.

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn’s team said last night that he had finally made it on to the ballot paper with 45, after earlier appearing to struggle. Left-wing backbench hopeful Jon Cruddas was also safe with 46.

Of the others, Justice Minister Harriet Harman was running second with 63, with Northern Secretary Peter Hain on 50 and Labour Party Chairman Hazel Blears on 49.

Liberal Democrat leaderMenzies Campbell called on Mr Brown to call an immediate general election.

He said: “As Mr Brown will not face a challenger it is all the more important that there should be a general election now. The country is surely entitled to pass judgment on whether he should become the most powerful politician in the country.

“A coronation is good neither for Labour nor Britain. It is no way to install a prime minister when even his own party doesn’t have a choice.”