By Justin Parkinson BBC political reporter

Mr Johnson says improving social mobility is a key aim

Alan Johnson thinks he and Gordon Brown are two of a kind - after a fashion.

The education secretary, one of six contenders to become the next Labour deputy leader, told the BBC News website: "We come from a similar background. He left school at 16 to go to university.

"I did the same, at 15, but it was to start stacking shelves in Tesco."

Mr Johnson is often described as suave, self-deprecating and easygoing.

These are qualities not often associated with the chancellor, who is the red-hot favourite to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister.

'Charm offensive'

In a recent BBC documentary, Mr Johnson described how, during his days as a junior minister, he and the then education secretary, Charles Clarke, had to fight to get Labour backbenchers to vote for higher tuition fees for university students.

He smiled and said: "I was part of the charm offensive with Charles Clarke. I did the charming and he was offensive."

Some observers think Mr Johnson might serve the same role alongside Mr Brown - the velvet glove around the clunking fist.

But Mr Johnson said: "I was only joking about Charles. He's one of the most charming men I know but he's a big man in politics.

CONTENDER QUESTIONNAIRE Age: 56 Family: Married School: Sloane Grammar School Political hero: Ernest Bevin Good night out/in: Dinner Hobbies: Music, reading and football Favourite film: Babette's Feast Best thing on TV: Shameless Bad habits: Turning my mobile phone off when people are trying to get hold of me Something we don't know about you: I went to school with the footballer, Malcolm MacDonald

"Gordon is also a big man in politics, but he's light on his feet. He's friendly, charming and well-liked.

"I've known him since 1992 and I've always worked well with him and got on with him.

"We have the same attitude that we must improve social mobility and fairness. That's something that's personally very important to me.

"We, as a government, have set ourselves tough targets, like ending child poverty by 2020. We've got to keep pushing ourselves to do more.

"At my own department we are doing better at reaching the kids from the poorest backgrounds but we can't stay still and Gordon recognises that."

Mr Johnson, despite having one of the top jobs in government, still describes himself as "working class".

Rapid rise

After his time as a supermarket shelf-stacker, he became a postman and then a union activist, rising to general secretary of the Communications Workers Union.

Mr Johnson has been MP for Hull West and Hessle - the next seat along from current Labour deputy leader John Prescott's Hull East - since 1997.

He became a trade and industry minister two years later, before taking over the higher education portfolio in 2000.

By 2004 he was work and pensions secretary and, a year later, he was back in education, this time in charge of the whole department.

Recent newspaper articles have suggested Mr Johnson would be Mr Brown's favoured deputy, despite another contender - Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman - being a long-time ally.

'Navel-gazing'

Mr Johnson said: "It wouldn't be appropriate for Gordon to say who he wants to be deputy leader. There are some outstanding candidates.

"What is good is that we are not fighting the ideological battles of the 1980s, when the party seemed to want to set up a barrier between us and the electorate.

Mr Johnson went to school with footballer Malcolm MacDonald

"We spent too much time navel-gazing and we had to do something. Eventually we did this, as a party, and figures like [National Union of Miners leader Arthur] Scargill left. We moved on as a party.

"Of course getting into power was part of the impetus, but our principles are at the heart of what drives us.

"We are now the party of government and we have moved the political centre ground towards the left. Policies like the minimum wage have become the mainstream."

Given his rapid rise within Labour, and union roots which could appeal to the party's core members, did he never think of going for the top job?

"There was a time last summer when everyone was talking about throwing their hat in the ring and I did briefly consider it.

"But, as the others all dropped out and I thought about it some more, I began to feel it wasn't worth entering a contest just for the sake of it.

"Gordon would be an excellent leader."

Cabinet post

Mr Johnson says it would be up to the next prime minister to decide whether to make the deputy Labour leader the deputy prime minister.

However, he has no intention of giving up his position as a Cabinet minister.

"I would like both. If I became deputy leader I would still like to have a meaningful Cabinet post because I want to shape policy to help us deal with the challenges of globalisation.

Reports have said Mr Johnson is Gordon Brown's first choice

"We can't afford to be inward-looking when we are looking at issues as important as global warming and poverty."

Opinion polls suggest the Conservatives are ahead of Labour, presenting more of a challenge at the next general election that at any time since 1992.

"The Tories are being flattering by trying to copy us and push us off the centre ground, but they won't succeed.

"David Cameron is the most formidable opponent we have faced since we came to power in 1997. But there are things to remember.

"First, he wrote the party's manifesto for the last election, which was hardly in touch with the electorate. It seemed to be saying single parents were wrong and was desperately out of touch.

"So I'm not convinced by what Cameron is saying just two years later.

"Second, even if you believe that he is genuine about wanting to change his party's attitude to things like gay rights, you have to look at the Tory membership itself."

Earlier this month, shadow home affairs minister Patrick Mercer had to resign his frontbench position after saying a "a lot" of "idle and useless" ethnic minority soldiers had used allegations of racism as a "cover".

Mr Johnson thinks this attitude is symptomatic of the Conservatives.

"I would say that they [Tory members] are closer in outlook to Patrick Mercer than Cameron. In fact, some of them are far less liberal than Patrick Mercer."

To feature on the ballot paper for the Labour deputy leadership, contenders must secure the signatures of 12.5% of the party's MPs - 45 names, including their own.

Mr Johnson said: "We've had lots of feedback from MPs. We estimate that between 70 and 80 are supporters now.

"But of course we then have to go on and gain the support of the members and the unions... I'm confident that I can win."

The other contenders for Labour's deputy leadership are International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, party chairman Hazel Blears, backbencher Jon Cruddas and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain.

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