Skipper

Labour is not in as bad shape as some of us feared it might be six months ago: 258 seats and a grandstand seat while the coalition possibly digs its own grave. And Gordon has gone. Martin Kettle pointed out yesterday that Labour has not been very good at looking after its own interests; it allowed Gordon to insist on that no contest 'oronation'in June 2007 and then, when it realised its mistake, was unable to screw up the courageto get rid of him. I just hope its sense of preservation is a bit sharper when it comes to choosing his replacement. What of the candidates?

John McDonell: a worthy leftie who has tried before to raise the required number of signatures but failed. His candidature is more of a gesture than a serious attempt to win.

DianAbott: something like the same applies to her chances of gaining nominations and maybe she is also the 'symbolic woman'? I used to be quite impressed by Ms Abbott but less so since she has been pitted against Michael Portillo on Andrew Neill's programme. By comparison she seems ill informed, lightweight and lacking in insight. Labour really needs an able woman to contest the leadership- I don't think Diane is she.

Ed Balls: I'm trying hard to like this Ed as I'm awre I'm prejudiced by his closeness to Gordon Brown and the role he played as Broon's acolyte, spreading negative briefingsand slavishly doing his masters darker political deeds. I hear from other sources that he is not really like that and is a committed politician who wants to achieve a fairer society. I'm not sure and I'm not impressed by his level of articulacy either. As a top flight politician he should be better with words.

David Miliband: this is a very able and articlate guy who is also likeable and quite funny. But I wonder if he is able to connect with voters in the right way. I fear he is a bit too cerebral and unable to enter different strata of social communication. Also I wonder if he really has the temperament, given that he bottled standing against Gordon in the autumn of 2008 and June last year when James Purnell bravely showed the way. Still unsure about David but would accept him if he won as someone who might succeed and become the next Labour PM. And a successful one too.

Ed Miliband: not as experienced as his big brother but I think more talented politically. He is able to transcend the Blair-Brown divide and the unions like him. Heis also funny, clever and communicatesbetter than his brother. On balnce I'm for him at the moment. But lets see how their campaigns shape up. Should be fun.