Thoughts that Alan Milburn might stand against Gordo when the Maximum Tone steps down.

Mr Milburn is set to step up his role as a Blairite
"outrider" over the next few months, promoting policies on reforming
the public sector – Tony Blair’s main aim for his remaining time in
office.

"When the time comes, Alan will be very
well positioned to challenge Gordon," one of the former health
secretary’s close friends told The Sunday Telegraph. "He does not
expect to win – but he feels it important that Gordon should not have
things all his own way."

Another leading Blairite described the likely candidacy as "Alan’s kamikaze mission".

With
Mr Blair hoping to stay on until late 2008, or even 2009, Mr Brown
could face two other candidates in the contest to replace him – Mr
Milburn and a leading figure from Labour’s Left, possibly Michael
Meacher, the former environment minister.

That is fun enough, but Meacher? He’s gone batshit crazy…that is going to be something worth watching, we’ll find out how may votes he gets and thus what portion of the Labour Party has completely lost touch with reality. And if he wins it’ll be a Michael Foot sort of moment.