Contenders for Gordon Brown's first cabinet

(Reuters) - Chancellor Gordon Brown, 56, is expected to succeed Prime Minister Tony Blair by July.

Brown will be keen to promote young talent and have a good balance of men and women in government. He will also be wary of having too many ministers from his native Scotland.

Following is a look at which Labour Party parliamentarians could feature in Brown's first cabinet, based on discussions with a range of political sources.

ALISTAIR DARLING, 53

The epitome of the quiet man who gets the job done, Darling has been entrusted with some of government's harder briefs including taking over the transport department after a string of scandals. In charge of trade and industry and a close ally of Brown, Darling is favourite to take over from his fellow Scot at the finance ministry.

JACK STRAW, 59

Straw has been involved in top level governance for most of Labour's decade in power as both interior and foreign minister. He is running Brown's leadership campaign.

He was demoted to leader of the Commons last year by Blair but is in the frame to take the post of home (interior), finance or foreign minister under Brown.

Straw was foreign minister when Britain went to war in Iraq. With Labour keen to draw a line under the conflict, and John Reid stepping down as interior minister, Straw may get Reid's post.