64 MPs back Johnson in deputy bid

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Outgoing deputy John Prescott and Environment Secretary David Miliband were among the list of 64 unveiled at the formal launch of Mr Johnson's campaign.

It puts him well above the 44 nominations needed to secure a place on the ballot paper, with nominations due to close on Thursday.

Launching his campaign, under the slogan "the people's choice", Mr Johnson put great stress on his background. The former supermarket shelf stacker and postman who went on to become first a union leader then a Cabinet minister said: "We need people like me."

He went on, in reference to Chancellor Gordon Brown, the overwhelming favourite to succeed Tony Blair: "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 said he was in the best position of all the candidates to "enhance and complement Gordon's appeal to the electorate".

Mr Johnson said that he would like to remain Education Secretary under the new prime minister, insisting it would be a "big mistake" if the deputy leadership became a purely party position.

He also warned against any retreat from the centre ground, which he said would represent "political suicide".

And, reflecting similar comments by the Chancellor, he said he wanted to see a leadership style based on "gravitas not gimmickry".

The Hull MP revealed that he had identified Mr Brown as a potential future prime minister in his personal diary in 1992 after meeting him for the first time as a union leader.