Three tests for those who want to replace Brown

Steve Richards declares that the “Labour Party is in the worst of all possible worlds” in his column this morning. It is hard to disagree with him. The actions of the rebels have brought the leadership question into the open and made it the dominant topic in political discourse yet there aren’t enough of them to bring down the PM. But, equally, Brown is too weak to reassert his authority. So, the leadership speculation will run and run. It is the prism through which everything Labour does will be seen.

But, as Steve argues, those who want to bring down the Prime Minister should want to put something in his place. Steve poses three questions which he thinks a new leader, or those who want one, must be able to answer:

1). What would they do about the economic crisis? 2). How will they link policy to progressive value?   3). Can they create an election-winning coalition from their policies and values?

Where I disagree with Steve is when he says that the rebels should hold off until they—or a candidate—can at least come close to answering these questions.