Labour MPs: We can pick a new leader within 23 days

Labour could have a replacement for Gordon Brown within days of him quitting, party sources admitted last night.

If he caved in to the growing clamour for him to step down, a successor could in theory be crowned within a week.

However, this would depend on MPs rallying around a ‘unity’ candidate, as they did when Mr Brown replaced Tony Blair.

(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)

Even if more than one candidate threw themselves into the fray, some rebels believe the contest could be played out in as few as 23 days.

They have set out a detailed timetable to avoid a long drawn-out contest that would risk Labour falling further behind the Tories in the polls.

They believe if more than 40 MPs signed a declaration of no confidence in Mr Brown it would make his position untenable.

Full article here