Poetic justice: Duffy tipped for laureate role

Carol Ann Duffy is expected to be named by Downing Street tomorrow as the first female poet laureate, the latest in a line that has included John Dryden, William Wordsworth and Ted Hughes.

Duffy is thought to have edged ahead of Simon Armitage to succeed Andrew Motion, whose 10-year tenure comes to an end tomorrow.

For her fans - and there are a lot - it will be justice at last. Ten years ago it was between Duffy and Motion and one Downing Street official intimated that it was the poet's sexuality that was the stumbling block. "Blair is worried about having a homosexual [sic] as poet laureate because of how it might play in middle England," the official told the Sunday Times.

The latest offer is thought to have been made last week after approval from Buckingham Palace and Downing Street.

Motion has been judged a success in the role, especially for the vigorous way he has used it to widen the appeal of poetry and to highlight other issues such as homelessness and the Paddington rail disaster, a side of the job Duffy may be more comfortable with.