Harman steps in as holiday cover at No.10

Harriet Harman is to stand in for Gordon Brown in Whitehall while he is on holiday, it emerged today.

The Commons leader has issued a series of demands to Downing Street officials as she prepares to take day-today control of the Government next week.

No10. had been briefed that Chancellor Alistair Darling and Justice Secretary Jack Straw would stand at the helm of government during Mr Brown's break in Suffolk - but mystery today surrounded why Ms Harman had not been mentioned.

News that she would be included in the rota sparked suggestions that she would be the first woman to run the country since Margaret Thatcher. But the PM's official spokesman played down this idea, saying: "The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister and remains in charge whether he is on holiday or not."

Ms Harman is widely seen as ready for a bid for the top job if Mr Brown steps down.