Confusion surrounds the Labour leadership contest after an astonished Bradford MP was told his name had appeared on the nominations for both rivals to Gordon Brown, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal.

Marsha Singh's name was said to be on a list of Labour MPs pledging support to John McDonnell in his quest to challenge the Chancellor in the contest to succeed Tony Blair, it was alleged in Westminster.

However, the news came as a shock to the Bradford West MP who today said he had pledged his support to Michael Meacher and had not signed Mr McDonnell's form.

He said he was disgusted some people might think he had signed two nomination papers.

After hearing rumours circulating in Westminster, the T&A contacted Mr Singh, who is abroad on a parliamentary trip, to be told he had not signed anything backing Mr McDonnell but had openly pledged support to Mr Meacher.

Both Mr Meacher's and Mr McDonnell's supporters had been collecting names and signatures of supporting MPs but the two had agreed to pool resources to ensure a challenge from the left - and whichever had the most pledges would go forward to try to get their name on the ballot paper.

On Monday - when nominations formally opened for the contest - Mr Meacher accepted that Mr McDonnell had more supporters than him and agreed to drop out of the contest in his favour.

Speaking from Thailand where he is investigating Burmese refugees on the Thai / Burma border, Mr Singh said: "Michael Meacher came to my office twice - once to see what I thought and once to bring the nomination papers.

"I never signed John McDonnell's paper. My signature was not on both. I have never signed both bits of papers. I have never sat and discussed the matter with John McDonnell and never ever had a conversation with him.

"How could I have signed a form?

"This is very serious. I have never met him to discuss this matter. I have been quite open about supporting Michael."

The situation came to light when both candidates produced their lists of supporters last week, at a time when a decision was expected, only to find doubling up - which was then disputed.

On his return to Britain on Friday, the Bradford MP said he would speak to Mr McDonnell's office to decide whether to take the matter further.

Mr Singh said he felt "disgusted" some people may have thought he had signed two nomination papers. He said: "I ride one horse, not two."

It emerged last night that Gordon Brown had received 282 formal pledges of support out of Labour's 354 MPs. Mr McDonnell had received 27 nominations and needs the support of a further 18 MPs by tomorrow lunchtime if he is to win a place on the ballot paper.

e-mail: newsdesk@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

'Brown/Johnson team is the way forward'

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe has set out why he believes Education Secretary Alan Johnson has the credentials for Labour Party deputy leader.

Mr Sutcliffe spoke at the launch of Mr Johnson's campaign in Westminster yesterday, under the slogan "The People's Choice".

Mr Sutcliffe, who has been heading the campaign since November, said: "Alan is the best person to unite the party and appeal to ordinary men and women.

"It is important people can identify with the leadership of the Labour party. A Gordon Brown/Alan Johnson team will do that."

Mr Johnson, a former supermarket shelf stacker and postman who went on to become a union leader then a Cabinet minister, said: "We need people like me."

Mr Johnson's campaign has strong Bradford ties, with former interim chief executive of Bradford Council Dave Kennedy running the Yorkshire base.

Last year Labour MP John Spellar called for the Labour Party to call off its deputy leadership contest saying a drawn-out £2 million contest to replace John Prescott was divisive and would drain campaign funds.

Mr Johnson took an early lead last night, with 64 nominations, over Justice Minister Harriet Harman, with 60. Peter Hain had 49 and Hazel Blears 48.

Nominations opened on Monday and will close tomorrow lunchtime.

There will be ten hustings events before the results are announced in Manchester on June 24 - including one in Bradford on May 27.