Does Labour have no alternative to Brown?

Considering the size of the swing to the Tories last night, it no longer seems silly to talk about a leadership challenge to Gordon Brown. But Michael White’s analysis this morning neatly sums up why an actual challenge—as opposed to talk of one—is still unlikely:

“Can Labour MPs and their union paymasters, busy flexing their muscles again, get rid of Brown? In theory, yes. It would take 70 or so names to trigger a confidence vote. But who is there to take over, who could make a significant difference, even – unlikely – if the prime minister decided to walk? Most Labour MPs have no more experience of a political downturn than they do of a recession. There will be a lot of talk – up to cabinet level – but little more at this stage. Why? It is not obvious who or what the answer is. Brown may be like Jim Callaghan, fated to follow a powerful premier – Harold Wilson – but unable to win his own mandate.