This is a public service announcement (without guitars)

In case Gordon Brown does decide to break the habits of a lifetime and do the decent thing and resign following the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, here are the latest odds on who will succeed him as the next permanent leader of the Labour party:

David Miliband 5 - 2
Ed Balls 6 - 1
John Denham 6 - 1
Alan Johnson 6 - 1
Jack Straw 7 - 1
James Purnell 8 - 1
Jon Cruddas 10 - 1
Hilary Benn 16 - 1
A Burnham 16 - 1
Yvette Cooper 16 - 1
E Miliband 16 - 1
Harriet Harman 20 - 1
Douglas Alexander 20 - 1
C Flint 25 - 1
Charles Clarke 28 - 1
Jacqui Smith 50 - 1
Ruth Kelly 50 - 1
Tony Blair 250 - 1


There are some very under-priced candidates there, Yvette Cooper, Ed Miliband and Caroline Flint leap out as no-hopers and Ed Balls at 6 - 1 is a joke. The only one worth a punt at the listed odds would be Andy Burnham.

Looking through the list I think the best result for the Conservatives, after Gordon Brown staying on of course, would be Ed Balls or Jack Straw.