But given the animosity shown towards him by senior Tories – just before the election, they plotted to unseat him – the Conservatives might be unwise to expect him to favour them.
The invention of such scenarios by unelected European and IMF officials, whose job is to serve rather than unseat elected politicians, reveals an alarming disregard for Greece's democratic institutions and a blatant violation of EU rules which they like to lecture Syriza about.
It now appears that unionists are more likely to form an electoral pact, which might help them not only unseat McDonnell, but also defend North Belfast for the DUP and mount a major challenge to Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew, the MP for Fermanagh/South Tyrone.
Ringland would be an ideal choice for any party in Britain fighting to unseat a sitting MP under fire over allegations (which Robinson strenuously denies) of sleaze or graft.
He dismissed the attempts to unseat Nick Clegg as not serious claiming the party was solidly behind the party leaders.
They are desperately keen to unseat the local member, the Coalition's Sophie Mirabella, but they are going about it with disarming charm, rather than fire and brimstone.
But she has been riled by what she sees as a coordinated campaign by leftwing parties and activists to unseat her in favour of McGowan.
John Boehner's speakership in the US House of Representatives is not long for this world – or so saith the Tea Party, which claims to have assembled a Gang of Nine to unseat him and fill his chair with Representatives Louie Gohmert or Ted Yoho.
McDonnell could face a major challenge to unseat him if the two main unionist parties, the Democratic Unionists and the Ulster Unionists, agree to an electoral pact before May.
However, Labour is said to be pursuing a "decapitation strategy" to unseat the Lib Dem leader.
The same is true in Norwich South, where Adrian Ramsay, is on course to unseat Charles Clarke.
