Labour Leader Contenders Update

This evening's update to the nominations tallies has the following, in descending order of number of MP nominations:

• David Miliband – 51 MPs
  
• Ed Miliband – 46 MPs
• Ed Balls – 24 MPs
• Andy Burnham – 14 MPs
• John McDonnell – MPs
• Diane Abbott – 0 MPs

Now Miliband D is ahead of Miliband E, which is a turnaround.

An interesting development is that McDonnell has today offered to "stand aside if it would put Diane Abbott on the ballot paper" (or words to that effect). To be honest, based on his previous form, I never really expected him to stay the course anyway, as he doesn't seem to have the stomach for it. Perhaps stranger still, two of his nominees are Frank Field and Kate Hoey, who hardly seem to be the type to support a hard-Left candidate...

Anyway, with two weeks still to go, I'd expect Balls and Burnham both to reach the required 33, especially Balls who is three-quarters of the way there. Poor Diane isn't (yet) getting anywhere; and McDonnell's offer doesn't look as though it would be of much benefit to her either.

At the moment it is looking like it will probably be a four-horse race.