Contenders for education post

Mr Clarke and Mr Miliband may be in the running

Speculation is mounting over who will be chosen to replace Estelle Morris as education secretary following her shock resignation.

Ms Morris frankly admitted that she did not feel she had done a good enough job as she tendered her resignation on Wednesday.

But who is up to taking the helm of a huge department at the heart of government policy where key strategic decisions have to be made?

Patricia Hewitt has been tipped as frontrunner

Schools Minister David Miliband and Labour Party Chairman Charles Clarke are among those named as possibilities for the post.

But Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt is also believed to be a front-runner.

Tony Blair has said the cabinet reshuffle will be "limited" but this may be viewed as an opportunity to make bold decisions.

Young contender

Mr Miliband, who is already in the department, has been dismissed by some commentators as being too young for such a lofty promotion, at 37.

He was only elected as an MP for the first time in last year's election so may be viewed as an outside bet.

But at the 1997 election hardly any of Mr Blair's ministers had ministerial experience.

Formerly head of the prime minister's policy unit in 10 Downing Street, Mr Miliband wrote the Labour manifesto for the last election.

In contrast Mr Clarke has been at the forefront the party since the days of Neil Kinnock.

'Safe pair of hands?'

The former schools minister has been tipped for office since he was elected as MP for Norwich South in 1997.

After a year at the education department, he became minister of state at the home office.

Appointed to the new post of party chairman last year he may be seen as a safe pair of hands.

But he may not be considered dynamic enough to run such a key department.

Ms Hewitt, who entered the cabinet last year as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has also worked at the Treasury, where she gained a reputation as an efficient minister.

Europe minister Peter Hain, an enthusiastic supporter of the euro, is highly regarded in Downing Street for his campaigning skills.

If he does not get the job of education secretary it may be that he is given a new post in the Cabinet reshuffle.

A political activist from a teenager, he joined the Labour Party in 1977 and spent his career as a trade union official until entering the Commons at a 1991 by-election.

Speculation on Ms Morris's successor is not expected to continue for long as Tony Blair is due in Brussels on Thursday for an EU summit so an announcement is expected shortly.