Office Chatter

Thanks to the Brothers Miliband, the Labour leadership contest is making Cain and Abel headlines. But this is more than a two-horse race. And it not just who heads Labour, but who would be the most effective leader of the opposition. Because that's what the country needs right now.

Anyone thinking of applying for the job has only eight days to find 33 MPs to support them and put in their papers. Apart from the Milibands, former children's secretary Ed Balls and left-wing MP John McDonnell are also staking their claim to the title.

Former foreign secretary, David Miliband is a Blairite, and therefore may not be able to count on the trades union block vote. He's also seen as rather cerebral and remote, but he's put together an plea to the people.

Younger brother Ed Miliband, who was climate change secretary is further to the left of David. He says the party needs to rediscover the radicalism that 'made it both an irresistible electoral force and the transformative force for good in our society'.

Ed Balls was chief economics adviser to Gordon Brown for 10 years, and then became schools secretary. It was Balls who, with Peter Hain, suggested that Labour supporters should vote tactically in constituencies the Liberals were the main rivals of the Conservatives. I couldn't find a leadership website, but this is his election one.

John McDonnell wanted to stand against Brown in 2007, but could not gather enough support. This time the RMT union is backing McDonnell. General secretary Bob Crow says McDonnell 'will be there in the front line of the ConDem attack and he is the perfect alternative to the assorted candidates from Continuity New Labour'.

So who do you think will make the best leader of the opposition?

Ed Balls

John McDonnell

David Miliband

Ed Miliband