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Two brothers, husband/wife in possible race to replace Brown

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, May 11, IRNA – Labour’s National Executive Committee were meeting Tuesday to discuss procedures to elect a new party leader following Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s decision to step down from power after last week’s election defeat.

Brown said he would stay on in the hope of forming a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats but had “no desire to stay in my position longer than needed" and suggested a replacement should be elected by the time of Labour’s annual conference in September.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is firm favourite to become the next Labour leader, confirmed on Monday night that cabinet members had agreed not to announce their intentions to stand in the race until after the issue of forming a new government was resolved.

But reports suggested that the 44-year old foreign secretary is likely to face competition from his 40-year old younger brother, Ed Miliband, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary.

Both are considered distant from the political views of their father, the late eminent neo-Marxist sociologist Ralph Miliband, although of the two, Ed is seen slightly to the left of his brother, while each have returned to their Jewish roots.

Other likely contenders included Schools Secretary Ed Balls, one of Brown’s closest allies, but the 43-year old former economic leader writer for the Financial Times may also face the prospect of rivalry from his wife, Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson, 59, has also been linked as a possible replacement, while one of the outsiders being mentioned is 48 year old backbench MP Jon Cruddas, who is seen disadvantaged by having no ministerial experience.

Under Labour’s leadership election rules, prospective candidates first need to gain nomination from at least 12.5 per cent of the party’s MPs, currently equivalent to 33.

Voting then takes place in an "electoral college" of Labour MPs, ordinary party members, and the membership of affiliated trade unions, with each of the three sections having equal weighting.