So just what are Johnson and Miliband – the Men Who Would be King – thinking? They seem to have bottled, just when their big chance has come. Here, for the sake of completeness, are a few more or less possible scenarios:
1) They genuinely think that Gordon Brown has a chance of recovering, and actually want to be part of his Government. Relatedly, they just may not be interested in the leadership.
2) They don’t see the point in rocking the boat, Blears style, now, and would rather take over once Brown has lead Labour to oblivion at the next election.
3) In Miliband’s case, he may prefer for Johnson to take over before the next election, leading Labour to a less inglourious defeat, before taking over himself.
4) They don’t want to get their hands bloody, and are waiting for the backbenches – and that “signupnow” email – to wield the knife against Brown.
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