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Harriet Harman is campaigning to promote herself as a stand-in Prime Minister should Mr Brown be forced out. It emerged last night that Labour MPs have been sounded out about her suitability if the PM leaves No10 by the end of the year. With the Prime Minister's position looking precarious, manoeuvring to replace him is well under way. The revelation that his own deputy fancies her chances will annoy Mr Brown, who is desperate to dampen speculation about his future. The Daily Mail understands that MPs acting on Miss Harman's behalf have approached backbenchers in recent weeks to test her popularity as a possible leader. They are emphasising her English middle-class roots to capitalise on fears among some MPs that Mr Brown's Scottishness is contributing to his sinking popularity. And ministers claim Miss Harman has held talks... [read full story]
