Harman planning a cue

This morning's Independent claims that deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman is planning a strategy to take over from Gordon Brown when the Prime Minister is finally toppled.

According to an article by Nigel Morris, Deputy Political Editor

Last week Ms Harman launched an outspoken attack in a cabinet meeting on the culture of greed in the City, calling for a retrospective clawback of the bonuses paid to executives in banks bailed out by the taxpayer.

and he adds that

Her comments, which rapidly became public, put her at odds with colleagues who argued that bankers’ contracts could not be torn up and that such action would wreck Labour’s reputation for being business-friendly. It also went far beyond Mr Brown’s preference for a clamp down on future bonuses rather than those that have already been paid.

With a run of disastrous polls it is not sup rising that the senior members of the party are looking to a post election future.

It is becoming highly unlikely that the next Labour leader will be Prime Minister but the attractions of Harman playing the Michael Howard role must seem attractive to the party whilst new blood rises through the ranks