Robin Cook may be set for a return to the frontbenches if Tony Blair steps down as Labour leader.
Blair's successor may recall the former foreign secretary and leader of the House as an acknowledgement of government failures in Iraq.
Such a move would mark a clean break with the Blair era, and help to heal divisions within the Labour Party.
The Sunday Times claims that Cook and Jack Straw could both be in the running for the post of deputy prime minister under a Gordon Brown premiership.
Brown, a longtime enemy of the former foreign secretary, is said to have settled his differences with Cook.
Despite the thaw in relations the chancellor is unlikely to make Cook his number two - even if the former minister secured the deputy leadership position.
As a Scottish MP, Brown will inevitably face claims that he has no mandate to govern in England given that Scots now have their own parliament in Edinburgh.
Appointing a fellow Scottish MP to such a senior post within government would be seen as a step too far by some key Labour figures.
That therefore increases the likelihood of Straw becoming deputy prime minister, possibly allied to the job of chancellor, if Brown succeeds Blair.
But Cook himself has not ruled out standing for the deputy leadership.
Speaking on Sunday he said he was enjoying life outside government - but failed to deny that he would enter any leadership race.
"I’m very happy. I’ve got my voice back, I can speak more freely that before within limits. I no longer have to tether what I say or be careful that I’m not getting any of my 22 Cabinet colleagues into trouble – I’m in no rush or no hurry to give that up," he said.
"I’m very happy to give friendly advice in private and publicly to whoever takes over and whoever is the leader and Tony as well if he continues in the post.”
Exit Strategy
Since resigning from government, Cook has maintained a near constant media presence.
Whilst he has stopped short of calling on Blair to resign, he has consistently criticised the prime minister's handling of the situation in Iraq.
This weekend Cook kept up the pressure on Blair - calling for increased clarity in the government's Iraq policy.
"I personally think we need an exit strategy that says as soon as elections have been held, as soon as there is a democratic government to run Iraq, we're getting out," he told GMTV.
He also advised the prime minister to distance himself from President Bush, following Blair's declaration that he would stand "shoulder to shoulder" with his US ally.
Cook said there was unease and confusion within the Labour Party about Blair's decision to ally himself so closely with "one of the most right-wing presidents we have seen in the US for a long time".
