The Observer today touts Alan Johnson and Jon Cruddas as a future leadership team, with the backing of the unions, to stop Miliband's aspirations and get Labour back on track. They predict a fairly swift move for a contest!

Whilst I don't believe we should change leaders again before the next general election, I must admit it is looking more likely that we will do so.

Rumours are swirling over a David Miliband - Alan Johnson dream ticket standing jointly for leader and deputy leader when the time comes.

"Reading David Cameron’s Glasgow speech, I was struck not by how much the Tories have changed, but by how little. He delivered Tebbit’s “Get on your bike” speech, refined by PR experts. Chingford meets Notting Hill", says Health Secretary in a Fabian speech.

Yesterday Fawcett and UNISON declared was “Women’s No Pay Day”. The pay gap between men and women is such that compared to men, women work free from October 30th to the end of the year. Part time women earn on average 40% less than men.

Let me illustrate this point. My misses has just completed a two year full time diploma to become a teaching assistant. On Monday she started her first TA job at a local primary school. She is really enjoying the work and it seems a smashing school. Most of her time will be spent with kids who have special needs.

This lunchtime at work, one of the reception staff came up to my desk with a bunch of leaflets. They told me that striking Posties had come in and asked them if there was a union rep in the building, who could put one of their leaflets on the union notice board and distribute the rest.

I went down to the reception but they had already left. I saw that they had put the same flyers on all car windscreens parked all along the Roman Road. It was a pity that I missed them. They only left 5 leaflets. These flyers were very good. The title was “A message to the public” and explained in simple direct terms the Posties’ case and what people could do to help.

Just thought this might be a good place to post the results in full so people can comment on the statistical points. The first thing on my mind is that Benn was second in the Member section and a very slight third in the Union section when he was removed from the ballot - and was just 16 MPs short of beating Jon Cruddas...

...and who knows where Jon's preferences would have gone if a Benn were still in play?...

What do we all think?  Somewhat more awkward and tougher for the candidates than Newsnight this one.

Some definite hostile vibes between Harriet and Hazel on show, with Hazel's "handbag wars" comment.  Hain giving off the "you've stolen my thunder" vibe to Cruddas - since when was Hain so concerned with affordable housing?  A bit of a Blears Johnson love-in at the end.  Harriet objecting to the Brown "patsy" jibe. Hmmmm........

What could be more “East End” and welcoming than a curry in a restaurant off Brick Lane. Local Labour Party and trade union activists in Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest and Hackney have organised a reception for Alan at the "Sonargaon Restaurant", 32-38 Osborn Road, E1 (leading into Brick Lane) nearest tube Aldgate East (5 minutes) 7-8pm Wednesday 13 June 2007.

Post on the Trade Unions for Labour (TULO) Hustings held last night in the TUC Headquarters in Congress House last month. See picture is of UNISON Labour Link member Rachel Voller (local Nurse) and Alan Johnson. The main hall was packed. Extra chairs had to be bought in. Brown comes in, lots of clapping, he “works” the front row very well shaking hands and looking very relaxed and confident. He then knocks a microphone off the stage. Recovers well, and starts talking to the audience. A few bits and pieces about his performance.

UNISON website explains how and why the elected UNISON Labour Link national representatives voted to support Gordon Brown and Alan Johnson

From the BBC today...

West Ham CLP, where the first ever Labour MP, Kier Hardie, was elected in 1892, voted tonight to nominate Gordon Brown for Leader of the Labour Party and Harriot Harman to be the deputy. Gorden was nominated overwhelmingly and Harriot also won the deputy vote by a clear margin. Jon Cruddas was 2nd then Alan Johnson. There was a lively but good natured comradely debate in an “all members” CLP meeting.

UPDATE: just heard that Tower Hamlets Labour Party voted to nominate (supportive) Brown as leader, and Jon Cruddas as deputy (Alan Johnson 2nd).

The Newsnight deputy leadership hustings has surely turned this election upside down or are we at TMP getting a bit too excited!?

Here's the video of the speeches from the Progress / Fabian Society hustings 

A full house of BSS members and representatives from over 30 grass roots organisations, including the UK’s biggest trade unions, faith organisations and Black, Asian and minority ethnic pressure groups, are expected at the event in Westminster on Monday 21 May.  All six deputy leadership contenders - Jon Cruddas, Harriet Harman, Hazel Blears, Alan Johnson, Peter Hain and Hilary Benn will address the hustings.

Nominations have closed and all 6 candidates survived the threshold.

I think it's pretty clear that David Miliband would prefer not to stand for the leadership in this election.  If that is the case, Alan Johnson has helped no end, saying that it is not his time.

Alan Johnson right. Blair and Cameron wrong.

Hazel Blears' Deputy Leadership Campaign launch speech in Salford on Saturday.