Nominations close: Labour reaction

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Surging from only eleven nominations this morning, Diane Abbot has been nominated.

Abbott’s entry was aided by the withdrawal of John McDonnell, the support of party “big beasts” like Jack Straw and acting leader Harriet Harman, and also David Miliband, who stuck to his word and used his nomination to help another candidate over the line. Soon after he tweeted:

“Good news re Dianne. Thanks to my supporters who helped put her on ballot. Important day for debate and diversity in party.”

Ed Balls, who is also thought to have encouraged supporters to back Abbott and Burnham to get them on the ballot, said:

“Very good news for our party that Diane and Andy are on the ballot.”

Ed Miliband echoed this support, tweeting:

“Really pleased Diane is on ballot, means party can have widest poss choice, ready to get out there and debate across country.”

However support hasn’t been unanimous – Luke Akehurst, a prominent councillor in Abbott’s constituency in Hackney North, tweeted:

“Would have preferred BME/woman candidate who was not Hard Left, or a hard left candidate who hadn’t send their kid to private schoo(l)”

The election process will now turn outwards to the party, the union movement and the country. Does today’s surge point to the Big Mo for Abbott? I doubt it. If anyone has momentum, it’s still the frontrunner David Miliband. His machine will be difficult to overcome. But I am ready to make an early prediction: it will all come down to second, third, fourth and even fifth preferences, not just whose explicit support is strongest. That could still leave the contest wide open.