The members of Sir Albert Bore's cabinet have a difficult tightrope act to pull off if they want to play a part in Birmingham's next Labour administration.

We are told that a number of them are sounding out colleagues, drumming up support and trying to get a bandwagon rolling for the upcoming election.

Amid the media blackout in the Council House, we were informed through unofficial channels that Ian Ward, Penny Holbrook, Lisa Trickett, new arrival Shafique Shah and even the man who triggered the downfall James McKay are considering leadership or deputy leadership bids.

But they could be tainted by their attachment to the outgoing leader Sir Albert Bore and his beleaguered administration.

That will no doubt be the claim from leadership rival John Clancy who will promise all but a clean sweep of the top table. New blood all round.

Sir Albert has been forced out amid criticism from a government improvement panel and fury from backbenchers who have felt increasingly detached from their leadership.

A national Labour leadership fearing their party's name will be dragged through the mud if government commissioners march into the Council House in a few weeks also intervened.

Those backbenchers, who will decide the next leader, must now decide whether the panel and Communities Secretary Greg Clark will be satisfied with Sir Albert's resignation.

Or whether they will conclude they are getting more of the same if the new cabinet looks too similar to the old one.

An endorsement from an outgoing leader of Sir Albert's stature would normally be a huge step towards victory but in this case it could backfire.

But to try to distance themselves too far would risk them being branded as hypocrites for playing along when it suits them.

It is an unenviable balancing act they face.