Labour Leadership Contest: "I Could Have Been A Contender"

The Evening Stanners brings you the runners and riders for what will now be the post of Leader of the Opposition...

David Miliband

Shadow Foreign Secretary; MP for South Shields since 2001; aged 44. The clear frontrunner, Miliband was Foreign Secretary for three years, and both his youth and experience could pay dividends. He will not, however, be able to walk into the job without the fight: especially after the fallout of Gordon Brown's appointment to the leadership.

Ed Balls

Shadow Education Secretary; MP for Morley and Outwood (West Yorkshire); in Parliament since 2005; aged 43. A clear ally of Gordon Brown, he will be David Miliband's main challenger in the leadership contest.

Ed Miliband

Shadow Energy Secretary; MP for Doncaster North since 2005; aged 40. Unlikely to run if his brother declares an interest in becoming leader, but seen as being more media-friendly and less abrasive.

Alan Johnson

Shadow Home Secretary; became sixth Labour Home Secretary in twelve years in 2009; MP for Hull West and Hessle since 1997; aged 59.

ALAN JOHNSON HAS RULED HIMSELF OUT OF THE LABOUR LEADERSHIP CONTEST, AND HAS BACKED DAVID MILIBAND

Though of course, most people probably aren't too concerned about that right now.

The Evening Stanners