Alan Johnson took an early lead last night in the race to be Labour’s deputy leader as the first review of nominations showed that he had the support of 64 MPs.

The Education Secretary, who said yesterday that if elected he hoped to remain in his current job, led the six contenders, with Harriet Harman, the Justice Minister, in second place, 60 MPs backing her.

Mr Johnson had the significant backing of Ed Balls, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and Gordon Brown’s ally. But the Chancellor will not be expressing a preference, and it was notable that many of his other key allies, such as Douglas Alexander, Yvette Cooper and Nick Brown had plumped for Ms Harman.

Hilary Benn, the International Development Secretary and until recently the bookmakers’ favourite, was well short of the threshold with only 34 nominations. Two other candidates are certainly in the race: Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland Secretary, and Hazel Blears, the party chairman, each with 48.

Jon Cruddas, the backbencher campaigning for improved links between party and Government, who yesterday was one vote short of the threshold, last night signed up a 45th backer, Michael Connarty, to put him into the starting lineup.

Hopefuls have until 12.30pm tomorrow to attain 45 votes.

Mr Johnson and Ms Harman are the frontrunners – yet a lot could happen before the result is declared in Manchester on June 24. MPs have one third of the vote in Labour’s electoral college, with a third going to the unions and the rest to the party membership.

Some candidates, such as Mr Hain and Mr Benn, if he can get himself on to the ballot paper, are likely to do better than other candidates among the membership and unions.

Mr Johnson began his campaign yesterday under the slogan “the people’s choice”, and put emphasis on his background. The one-time supermarket shelf-stacker and postman, who went on to become a union leader, then a Cabinet minister, said: “We need people like me.” In a reference to Mr Brown, he said: “I am the right person at this time for this leader. I believe I’ve got the skills, I believe I’ve got the experience and I believe I’ve got the background.”

He was best-placed to “enhance and complement Gordon’s appeal to the electorate”.

Saying that he would like to remain Education Secretary, Mr Johnson insisted that it would be wrong for the deputy leadership to become a purely party position. Any retreat from the centre ground, he added, would be “political suicide”. But there was surprise when he suggested that the Government should not aim beyond its current target of 400 new city academies.

The total of nominations made for the deputy leadership was 299, leaving 54 MPs yet to choose a candidate. Mr Benn could still reach his target. Mr Benn said last night: “I am really pleased with the strong support I have received so far.”

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