Speculation mounting that Harriet Harman is plotting to succeed Brown

[Albus]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/feb/18/harriet-harman-leader

Speculation is mounting in Westminster and trade union circles that Harriet Harman, the leader of the Commons, is positioning herself to make a leadership bid should Gordon Brown fall under that proverbial bus.

With the PM facing an increasingly stressful time trying to tackle the economy and Labour trailing by 20 points in the polls, Harman is being particularly solicitous in finding jobs for backbench Labour MPs of all political hues.

She is also planning a high-profile women's conference at the same time as Brown holds what Westminster sees as his "make or break" G20 meeting in London.

It may be perfectly innocent, of course. As deputy party leader she almost has a duty of care to make sure Labour is as inclusive as possible and that women are given a prominent role. But don't forget that this is the woman who took on Alan Johnson, Jon Cruddas and Peter Hain for the deputy leadership and won.

There is already speculation in the Daily Mail today – reported on PoliticalBetting.com under the bizarre heading Is Harriet becoming Labour's Sarah Palin?

Well, not in the gun-toting, bear-slaying way – but perhaps in making sure she can be first off the blocks.

Another insight into the Harman family: union sources report that her husband, Jack Dromey (the Labour treasury who protested he was kept in the dark over loans to Labour during the cash for honours allegations) was being groomed to replace Ken Purchase, who was due to stand down from his Wolverhampton North East seat at the next election.

In fact, it never came to pass, but the rumours put off one potential candidate, John Cryer, the ex-MP for Hornchurch, who was firmly told by Unite sources that he should not put his name forward because it would muddy the pitch for the union's deputy general secretary, one Mr Dromey.

Watch out for Dromey being parachuted into a seat should another long-standing Labour MP stand down suddenly next year. This would give parliament a new golden Labour couple, a rival to the brothers Miliband and the golden twosome, Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper. Watch this space.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Looks like she's already started

[T_i_B]

2. I find that one unlikely

She only became deputy leader by default really, and I can't say that I can see any kind of groundswell for Harman as Labour leader. For one thing she's suprisingly unpopular on Labour blogs. For another, you've got people like David Miliband ahead of her in the pecking order.

[Albus]

3. Now it's Yvette Cooper as the "Stop Harriett" candidate

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23646854-details/Treasury+minister+Yvette+emerges+as+leadership+choice/article.do

TREASURY Minister Yvette Cooper is being pressed to stand as a "Stop Harriet" candidate for the Labour leadership.

A Cabinet minister is planning to approach her to persuade her to throw her hat into the ring if Labour loses the next election, the Standard has learned.

The move comes amid growing speculation that deputy leader Harriet Harman could step into Gordon Brown's shoes when he retires.

Labour's electoral college of MPs, unions and activists appears to favour women and a strong female candidate is seen as essential by MPs who think Ms Harman is uncomfortably close to the Left.

A complication for those championing Ms Cooper, 39, is that she is married to another candidate for the leadership - fellow Cabinet minister Ed Balls. But the next leadership contest is expected to draw a wide field of candidates and both could campaign in the early stages, with one withdrawing to support the other.

A senior party figure said: "Yvette Cooper is one of the most impressively clever ministers I have ever worked with and is obviously capable of being Prime Minister - which cannot be said about Harriet.

"She is also a working mum who went to a comprehensive school - and would be a very attractive contrast to David Cameron because unlike him she can say to families, 'I know exactly what you are going through.'"

Ms Cooper grew up in a highly political household. Her father, Tony Cooper, was general secretary of the Engineers' and Managers' Association. Her mother's family were miners. After a comprehensive education, she obtained a first at Oxford and entered politics via journalism.

Ms Harman, 59, cannot boast such working-class credentials, despite her marriage to trade unionist Jack Dromey. The daughter of a Harley Street consultant and niece of the late Lord Longford, she attended the independent St Paul's Girl's School and York University.

In the deputy leadership campaign in 2007, Ms Harman was the dark horse who trounced five rivals, including original favourite Alan Johnson.

Ministers have accused her of letting success go to her head by overtly positioning for a leadership contest.

A source close to Ms Cooper dismissed the leadership suggestion as "nonsense". He said: "It's nothing I have heard about."

[T_i_B]

4. Even more unlikely then Harman

Are they just thinking of minister's names then starting rumours at random?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. possibly

just a slow news day and needed some column inches to fill for the former sister-paper of the Daily Fail.