Brown launches bid to succeed Blair
Saturday, May 12, 2007
FINANCE MINISTER Gordon Brown launched his bid to become Britain's next prime minister yesterday, vowing a different style from the media-friendly Tony Blair and saying he will not be a "celebrity" leader.
Brown, widely expected to become leader of the governing Labour Party — and therefore prime minister — announced his candidacy a day after Blair revealed he would call time on his decade in power on June 27.
Widely seen as dour in contrast to the charismatic, media-friendly Blair, Chancellor of the Exchequer Brown vowed that he would demonstrate his ability to take on the top job in the coming weeks.
"In the weeks and months ahead, my task is to show that I have the new ideas, the vision and the experience to earn the trust of the British people," said Brown.
"As a politician I have never sought the public eye for its own sake. I have never believed presentation should be a substitute for policy," he said at a carefully orchestrated presentation in central London.
"I do not believe politics is about celebrity."
Brown is the clear frontrunner to succeed Blair, after the only credible possible rivals for the leadership of the centre-left Labour Party pulled out of the race in recent weeks.
Brown won a long-awaited formal endorsement from Blair.
The prime minister has repeatedly ducked the chance to name Brown as his chosen successor, but yesterday at last gave his support to the chancellor, hailing him as an "extraordinary and rare talent"."I'm absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labour Party and prime minister and to endorse him fully," Blair told reporters.
"He's shown, as perhaps as the most successful chancellor in our country's history, that he's got the strength."AFP
Brown, widely expected to become leader of the governing Labour Party — and therefore prime minister — announced his candidacy a day after Blair revealed he would call time on his decade in power on June 27.
Widely seen as dour in contrast to the charismatic, media-friendly Blair, Chancellor of the Exchequer Brown vowed that he would demonstrate his ability to take on the top job in the coming weeks.
"In the weeks and months ahead, my task is to show that I have the new ideas, the vision and the experience to earn the trust of the British people," said Brown.
"As a politician I have never sought the public eye for its own sake. I have never believed presentation should be a substitute for policy," he said at a carefully orchestrated presentation in central London.
"I do not believe politics is about celebrity."
Brown is the clear frontrunner to succeed Blair, after the only credible possible rivals for the leadership of the centre-left Labour Party pulled out of the race in recent weeks.
Brown won a long-awaited formal endorsement from Blair.
The prime minister has repeatedly ducked the chance to name Brown as his chosen successor, but yesterday at last gave his support to the chancellor, hailing him as an "extraordinary and rare talent"."I'm absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labour Party and prime minister and to endorse him fully," Blair told reporters.
"He's shown, as perhaps as the most successful chancellor in our country's history, that he's got the strength."AFP
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