British Chancellor of Exchequer Gordon Brown on Friday formally
announced he would "stand for" labor leader and British Prime
Minister.
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"Today I announce that I am a candidate to be leader of the
Labor Party and to lead a new government," Brown said at a speech
in central London.
"Tony Blair has lead our country for 10 years with distinction,
with courage, with passion and with insight," said Brown.
"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 he, adding "Today there are new
priorities and I offer a new leadership for this new time."
Brown said it would be the "greatest honor" to be British prime
minister, and he also welcomed any candidates to challenge him.
"As I enter this contest for nominations, let me say I welcome
any other candidate who wishes to stand, will debate anyone who
does stand and will fight hard for every single nomination and
every person's support." said he.
Brown made his announcement just one day after Blair declared he
would step down as Labor Party leader on June 27.
And on Friday morning, Blair officially endorsed Chancellor
Gordon Brown as next Labor leader.
"I'm absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as
the next leader of the Labor Party and prime minister and to
endorse him fully," he told reporters at a press conference in
Downing Street 10 following talks with Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani.
"I think he has got what it takes to lead the Labor Party and
indeed the country with distinction. He's an extraordinary and rare
talent and it is tremendous if it is put at the service of the
nation as it now can be." said he.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott also announced that he would
resign as the Labor Party's deputy leader and quit as deputy prime
minister in the summer.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2007)
