Brown succeeds Blair to become Britain's 52nd Premier
Thursday, June 28, 2007
FINANCE minister Gordon Brown took over yesterday as British prime minister from Tony Blair, vowing after a decade in Blair's shadow to lead an era of "change".
Brown pledged in his first public comments to lead a "new government with new priorities".
He said he wanted to "build trust" in the government and reject "old politics" as he showed his determination to make a break with the Blair years.
"Now let the work of change begin," he declared outside his Downing Street office.
The handover came shortly after Blair was given a standing ovation in the House of Commons at his last appearance before heading off to tender his resignation to the monarch.
"That is that. The end," Blair said, choking back emotion, as he concluded his last question-and-answer session and listened to many tributes to his 10 years in office marked by a booming economy as well as the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Even as he bowed out Blair fuelled speculation that he will become an envoy for the Middle East Quartet the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nations saying a two-state solution is the only way to end the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.
"I believe it is possible to do that but it will require a huge intensity of focus and work," added Blair, who had Brown, a political ally turned rival, sat at his side.
Blair told lawmakers he was "sorry" for the danger faced by soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, two of the most controversial decisions of his premiership.
But he was defiant, refusing to accept critics' views that British troops are fighting in vain.
"I don't and I never will. I believe they're fighting for the security of this country and wider world against people who would destroy our way of life," he said.
The 56-year-old Brown, whose formal title is Chancellor of Exchequer, took over from Blair as Labour Party leader. He must call an election by May, 2010. Brown received an early political boost Tuesday when a lawmaker from the opposition Conservative Party defected to join Labour.
Brown stewarded Britain through record economic expansion but his serious style is a marked contrast to Blair's eloquent and easy, media-friendly persona.
He is widely seen as more sceptical of integration with the EU and more cautious in his relations with Washington.
AFP
Blair Mideast envoy?: Page 8
Brown pledged in his first public comments to lead a "new government with new priorities".
He said he wanted to "build trust" in the government and reject "old politics" as he showed his determination to make a break with the Blair years.
"Now let the work of change begin," he declared outside his Downing Street office.
The handover came shortly after Blair was given a standing ovation in the House of Commons at his last appearance before heading off to tender his resignation to the monarch.
"That is that. The end," Blair said, choking back emotion, as he concluded his last question-and-answer session and listened to many tributes to his 10 years in office marked by a booming economy as well as the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Even as he bowed out Blair fuelled speculation that he will become an envoy for the Middle East Quartet the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nations saying a two-state solution is the only way to end the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.
"I believe it is possible to do that but it will require a huge intensity of focus and work," added Blair, who had Brown, a political ally turned rival, sat at his side.
Blair told lawmakers he was "sorry" for the danger faced by soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, two of the most controversial decisions of his premiership.
But he was defiant, refusing to accept critics' views that British troops are fighting in vain.
"I don't and I never will. I believe they're fighting for the security of this country and wider world against people who would destroy our way of life," he said.
The 56-year-old Brown, whose formal title is Chancellor of Exchequer, took over from Blair as Labour Party leader. He must call an election by May, 2010. Brown received an early political boost Tuesday when a lawmaker from the opposition Conservative Party defected to join Labour.
Brown stewarded Britain through record economic expansion but his serious style is a marked contrast to Blair's eloquent and easy, media-friendly persona.
He is widely seen as more sceptical of integration with the EU and more cautious in his relations with Washington.
AFP
Blair Mideast envoy?: Page 8
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