Who will take over from Gordon Brown as leader?

[You kip if you want to...]

Who do you think Labour will elect to replace Gordon Brown as party leader once the inevitable happens at the next election, which will probably be in the spring?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Hard to say.  A lot will depend on who all won't have a chance because they aren't an MP any longer.

[Raoul]

Milliband.

(Edit: This means David)

[You kip if you want to...]

Milliband.

(Edit: This means David)

I like him, but he'd make a terrible leader I think. He certainly couldn't win a possible 2014/2015 election, he's to tainted by this government.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Well Jack Straw has gone from 2nd favorite to no chance this week.

[Peter]

Hard to say.  A lot will depend on who all won't have a chance because they aren't an MP any longer.

Possible contenders:

Alan Johnson (Hull West & Hessle, Majority 9,500)
David Miliband (South Shields, Majority 12,000)
Jack Straw (Blackburn, Majority 8,000)
Hilary Benn (Leeds Central, Majority 12,000)
Douglas Alexander (Paisley & Renfrewshire South, 13,000)
Lord Mandleson (?)

[afleitch]

Hard to say.  A lot will depend on who all won't have a chance because they aren't an MP any longer.

Possible contenders:

Alan Johnson (Hull West & Hessle, Majority 9,500)
David Miliband (South Shields, Majority 12,000)
Jack Straw (Blackburn, Majority 8,000)
Hilary Benn (Leeds Central, Majority 12,000)
Douglas Alexander (Paisley & Renfrewshire South, 13,000)
Lord Mandleson (?)

I think it will be Hilary Benn; though I would prefer it if it was Dougie Alexander; he is cut from the same cloth of political privilege and childish expectation as his sister.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Benn's constituency now covers most (perhaps all) of what was once Gaitskell's, interestingly enough.

As for the question - impossible to say at this point. Things are wide open and much will depend on union support (which is bad news for the elder of Ralph's children... well, unless he's kissed and made up with Brother Simpson and Brother Woodley).

[big bad fab]

At the moment, that would be Alan Johnson. But, next year, wow...

[You kip if you want to...]

Hard to say.  A lot will depend on who all won't have a chance because they aren't an MP any longer.

Lord Mandleson (?)

LOL, that'd disasterous. The country hates him even more than Brown I think. He'd cause me to vote Green in my first election or Lib Dem if the Greens don't stand a candidate here.

[doktorb]

Brown is certainly on his way out, but who is going to be the John Major of 2010, the candidate who comes to steady the ship (though of course, not to win an unexpected election victory?)

It is very easy to play palour games by choosing current Cabinet ministers, but there is always the lilkihood of someone - anyone, heh! - coming from the lower ranks or even the backbenches. Not that any name springs out at me, but there's always that chance.

I suspect a "friend of Mandleson" will be the successful candidate, so one of the Miliband Brothers may do it. Or else Ed Balls, of course, if Labour fancy a good 20-years in Opposition....

[Peter]

I doubt a lower ranked minister, because they tend to care sufficiently about their career not to annoy the big-gun cabinet ministers.

We could get another lefty challenge from the likes of Michael Meacher or John McDonnell. Alternatively, I would be interested to see somebody like Jon Cruddas or another credible member of the soft left.

[You kip if you want to...]

I doubt a lower ranked minister, because they tend to care sufficiently about their career not to annoy the big-gun cabinet ministers.

We could get another lefty challenge from the likes of Michael Meacher or John McDonnell. Alternatively, I would be interested to see somebody like Jon Cruddas or another credible member of the soft left.

I think, it's pretty clear that Labour will be dragged back to the left after the election.