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Miliband Next in Line to Prescott?

It has been the talk that Environment Secretary David Miliband could be the successor of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott should he buckle under the pressure and criticism and resign in the coming weeks.

Downing Street advisors have reportedly toyed with the idea, a scenario that would likely see the minister in a prime position to carry the New Labour legacy into the future.

The rumor comes in light of the impending holiday vacation of Prime Minister Tony Blair, and on whether the scandal riddled Prescott is fit to run the country in his absence.

A Downing Street source however said that it might be highly unlikely that Prescott would be ousted for fear that he would disclose confidential information on Blair and Brown's discussions. He said that Prescott might be left to "go at his own choosing".

The source likewise let on that Prescott is indeed aware and is angry over the plans to replace him with Miliband. He reportedly thinks that there is a conspiracy against him coming from senior officials.

If the deputy prime minister resigns his post in the coming weeks, more senior figures are likely to assume his position such as Jack Straw or Margaret Beckett. However it is the subject of speculation that Miliband, 41, would be the prime candidate for the long-term position.

However, Labour sources say that it would be difficult for Blair to appoint to the job of deputy prime minister any cabinet minister who had joined an informal race for the position, since it would be in danger of being thought of as an intrusion into party affairs.