Finance Minister Gordon Brown became Britain's prime minister-in-waiting on Thursday as the governing Labour Party said he is the only candidate to succeed its outgoing leader Tony Blair.
Brown won 313 nominations from Labour lawmakers, while his only potential challenger, leftwinger John McDonnell, failed to rally the 45 supporters required to join the race, according to the party's website.
Brown is expected to become Labour leader on June 24, and prime minister on June 27, after Blair announced last week that he was standing down after a decade in power.
Labour did not immediately say how many signatures McDonnell secured, but by Wednesday night he had only 29, and conceded defeat.
All six candidates for the party deputy leadership secured enough support to enter the race.
Education minister Alan Johnson came out on top with 73 nominations, followed by justice minister Harriet Harman on 65.
The others vying to be Brown's deputy are Wales and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, party chair Hazel Blears and backbencher Jon Cruddas.
"I congratulate everyone who has been successfully nominated," said Labour Secretary General Peter Watt, adding that candidates have until midday (1100 GMT) Friday to accept their nomination.
"The contest is doing great credit to the Labour Party and each of the candidates involved.
"I am confident the contest will continue in this spirit, a contest which is engaging, a contest that is reaching out to members certainly but critically is reaching out to the British people," he added.
