Would-be deputies Harman and Blears hold the old battle lines

The race to succeed John Prescott has split the Cabinet, with Gordon Brown's supporters backing Harriet Harman and Tony Blair's loyalists lining up behind Hazel Blears.

The division could dash the party's hopes of projecting a united front in the lead up to Mr Brown's coronation as leader.

Instead, the deputy leadership contest could be transformed into a "proxy war".

Although hardline Blairites failed to field a heavyweight challenger to the Chancellor, they are using the deputy race to fight for a stake in the party's future.

Labour chairman Miss Blears declared the support of key Cabinet Blairites John Reid, Tessa Jowell and John Hutton - whose future is uncertain under a Brown Government.

Justice Minister Miss Harman is endorsed by Douglas Alexander and Alistair Darling - leading allies of Mr Brown in the Cabinet, as well as his key lieutenants

Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and Nick Brown. With a high number of the Chancellor's allies backing her, Miss Harman appeared to be anointed as the preferred Brownite option.

Senior Labour figures believe the Justice Minister could appeal to women and middle class voters, particularly in the South-East. Only one Cabinet Minister, David Miliband, has declared his support for Education Secretary Alan Johnson, who was once seen as the favoured successor to Mr Prescott.

Gordon Brown and Tony Blair are unable to declare their backing for any of the six contenders.

Each candidate needs the names of 45 MPs including their own on nomination papers to stand.

Miss Blears has 47 public pledges of support, while aides say Miss Harman has 61.

Miss Blears said Labour's success over the past ten years was down to "keeping in touch with the voters", adding: "We all know that the strength of Labour is when we're in touch with the sense of people's concerns."

Miss Harman, who is married to Labour treasurer Jack Dromey, said the party leadership had to regain the trust of voters.

"We've got work to do and our task could hardly be more important," she said.

"It's nothing less than renewing the Labour Party and rebuilding the full trust and confidence of the British people in this Labour Government."

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Left-wing backbencher Jon Cruddas both claim they have enough support to stand.

But International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, who was the bookmakers' favourite until this week, is struggling to get the numbers.