ED MILIBAND

Overshadowed by his elder brother David, Ed Miliband is nevertheless seen by some Labour MPs as more affable, more loyal - and ultimately more likely to become PM - than his sibling. Still just 38, he only became an MP for Doncaster North three years ago but was swiftly promoted to the Cabinet when Gordon Brown finally took over at Number 10. His closeness to Mr Brown stems from his appointment in 1997 as the then Chancellor's special adviser.

LIAM BYRNE

Tipped for high office even before he became an MP, Mr Byrne has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ministerial ranks. Just four years after winning the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, the Harvard-educated IT expert brings real business experience to the Cabinet at a time of economic crisis. Mr Byrne, 38, has also at times displayed a populist touch. He said illegal migrants should "go home, not go to the front of the queue for jobs and benefits".

JON CRUDDAS

Dark horse who could easily slip to the front of a future Labour leadership contest. The Dagenham MP came third in last year's contest for deputy - an astonishing result given that he was a backbencher up against five Cabinet ministers. The son of a Portsmouth seaman, he worked closely with Tony Blair as a No 10 adviser but they fell out when he became an MP in 2001 and spoke out against New Labour and the Iraq war.

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