John McDonnell is only slowly getting enough nominations to stand for the Labour leadership. So far Ed Balls, Ed Miliband and David Miliband have been successfully nominated. That’s hardly a broad set of choices – all ex-cabinet ministers from the Brown government. You can follow all their progress here.

I’ve today written to all the Labour MPs who have not nominated someone to urge them to put John on the ballot for Union and ordinary party members to be able to chose him, if they so wish. Most important, having people who were not in the last cabinet on the ballot will allow the kind of debate the party so desparately needs.

I’ve had several auto responses already, including one that appears to be a personalised response, but clearly isn’t, given the speed with which it arrived.

You can find details of the MPs still undecided and further information here. There is also a good piece in The Guardian on the importance of a wide debate here.