Miliband allies work on 'Save Ed' campaign

Allies of Ed Miliband have discussed how to keep the Labour leader in his post if both main parties fail to win a majority in Thursday's general election, as part of preparations for a possible second election months later.

If David Cameron were to secure an outright majority on May 7, Mr Miliband would be expected to resign straight away, according to one member of the shadow cabinet - but the polls suggest that outcome is very unlikely.

A more probable scenario is that the Conservatives win more seats than Labour but fall well short of a majority. In that case, Mr Miliband would try to stay on awaiting a chance to form a government if Mr Cameron failed to line up enough allies, or to fight a potential second election if no group could secure a parliamentary majority for a legislative programme.

"There is already a 'Save Ed' campaign that has been planned in case Cameron only cobbles together 323 MPs [with allies from other parties]," said one party insider.

Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary, who is expected to run in any future Labour leadership contest, said Mr Miliband had emerged stronger from the election campaign.

Asked whether the Labour leader could remain in the post even if he failed to become prime minister, Mr Burnham told the Financial Times: "Of course he can."

Newly elected Labour MPs will gather on Monday May 11 for their first post-election meeting in parliament. A spokesman for Mr Miliband said he was not aware of any conversations about his future. "We're not discussing hypotheticals about May 8," he said.

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But if Labour was not far behind the Conservatives, he would not be forced to resign straight away, according to party insiders. That is because Mr Miliband could still be asked to try to form a government if Mr Cameron failed to do so.

"If that fails too, there's a general election," said the MP. "If that happens we won't have time to find a new leader."

Labour's complex leadership rules favour the incumbent by requiring 50 MPs to back a single named candidate at a specially called conference.

Any leadership contest would probably feature Mr Burnham and Yvette Cooper, both veterans of the New Labour years in government.

Mr Burnham and Ms Cooper would face stiff challenges from MPs from the 2010 intake, however, such as shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna or shadow justice minister Dan Jarvis.

<>Mr Burnham said the question of the leadership was "just not even on our radar" at the moment because the party was working hard to get Mr Miliband elected and it had the big momentum.

"I don't think anybody's saying let's have a great big generational shift," he said.

Asked whether Labour would be able to work with the Lib Dems - if necessary - Mr Burnham said it was disrespectful to the public to be talking about May 8 rather than the actual election on May 7.

But he said he was prepared to "work in partnership". "I'm prepared to do that . . . I'm always prepared to talk to others."

David Blunkett, the former home secretary, admitted last Thursday that Labour had virtually no chance of winning a majority because of the rise of the SNP in Scotland.

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