Runners and riders in race to be Labour's new leader

David Miliband: The Foreign Secretary would be seen as a Blairite contender for the leadership. Has previously served as Downing Street Policy Unit head and Defra secretary.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th May 2010, 12:22 BST
Updated 11th May 2010, 12:23 BST

Harriet Harman: Her role as deputy leader of the party means she would take over automatically if Mr Brown stepped aside before a successor was chosen. She is a former Solicitor General, Leader of the House and Minister for Women and Equality.

Alan Johnson: A former joint general secretary of the Communications Workers Union and a holder of key cabinet posts including Health Secretary and Home Secretary. The 59-year-old MP for Hull West has made great play of the need for electoral reform.

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Ed Miliband: Brother of David, the 40-year-old Climate Change Secretary was previously a key advisor to Mr Brown and is seen as more easy-going and fluent in public than his older sibling.

He was first elected as MP for Doncaster North in 2005, the same Westminster generation as Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.

Ed Balls: Once Gordon Brown's closest economic advisor at the Treasury, the Children's Secretary and MP for Morley and Outwood would be seen as the premier's chosen successor.

Andy Burnham: An MP for nine years, the Health Secretary is seen as one of the more personable figures in the cabinet.

Related topics:Gordon BrownHealth SecretaryLabour