Do the Brown new guard see Alan Johnson as Labour’s saviour?

Last week, The Daily Mirror reported that Alan Johnson would be made the chief whip and the government front man in a post-May day reshuffle. Now, Kevin Maguire’s New Statesman column passes on word that Stephen Carter tried to persuade Johnson to take the job of deputy Prime Minister. Johnson would certainly be a good foil to Brown—he’s English and relaxed—but rumours like this are going to put a target on his back.