The first official indications of support in the races for Labour's leadership and deputy leadership will emerge today as the party publishes lists of candidates' early nominations.

The runaway favourite to succeed Tony Blair as leader and Prime Minister, Chancellor Gordon Brown, is expected to reveal nominations well into triple figures, with reports suggesting he has signed up more than 270 of Labour's 354 MPs.

It was unclear whether the Chancellor's nomination paper would include the signature of the Prime Minister himself, who has already declared his support for Mr Brown.

Meanwhile, supporters of would-be candidate John McDonnell will set up a ballot box outside Parliament in a bid to encourage MPs to sign the left-wing challenger's nomination paper.

Mr Brown's campaign will focus on education with a visit today to a London college to meet trainee electricians, plumbers and builders on vocational courses.

He will use a high-profile address to the annual dinner of the Confederation of British Industry to unveil an Every Child Counts scheme to offer extra maths tuition to ensure that all children can do their sums by the time they leave primary school.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Mr Brown could set up a ministry for the 2012 London Olympics run by a heavyweight political figure if he wins power.

Mr Brown has previously indicated he may launch a "manifesto for sport" within 100 days of taking office, and BBC1's Inside Sport last night suggested he was considering using it to create a new department, to be called the Olympics, Sports and Well-being Ministry.

But sources close to Mr Brown played down the report, pointing out that the Chancellor has previously indicated support for drafting in external specialists to bolster handling of the 2012 Games by Tessa Jowell's Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Mr Brown's campaign was boosted today by a poll suggesting voters saw him as a better leader than the Conservatives' David Cameron.

When those questioned by Populus rated the two men on a scale of zero to 10, Mr Brown edged ahead of the Tory leader, scoring 5 against Mr Cameron's 4.95.