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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Voters will judge us all - Brown | Voters will judge us all - Brown |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Voters in the May local elections will be passing a verdict on "all of us", not just Tony Blair, says Gordon Brown. | Voters in the May local elections will be passing a verdict on "all of us", not just Tony Blair, says Gordon Brown. |
| The chancellor made the comments on ITV's Sunday Edition when asked whether the electorate would be judging 10 years of him and the prime minister. | |
| On whether Mr Blair had stayed in power too long the chancellor did not deny it, but said that the only result that mattered was a general election. | |
| He also said Labour's unpopularity was "a phase". | |
| Mr Brown is the favourite to succeed Mr Blair when the prime minister stands down. | Mr Brown is the favourite to succeed Mr Blair when the prime minister stands down. |
| Poll predictions | Poll predictions |
| Polls predict that the party is expected to fare badly at the ballot boxes on Thursday in elections for local councils in England as well as the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. | |
| "But remember these are local elections in England; they are elections actually not for a UK government but for the Scottish Parliament, and they are also elections for the Welsh assembly," added Mr Brown. | "But remember these are local elections in England; they are elections actually not for a UK government but for the Scottish Parliament, and they are also elections for the Welsh assembly," added Mr Brown. |
| I didn't hear Mr Cameron or the Conservatives calling for a general election the minute that John Major took over in 1990 Gordon Brown Labour leadership 'united' says Reid | I didn't hear Mr Cameron or the Conservatives calling for a general election the minute that John Major took over in 1990 Gordon Brown Labour leadership 'united' says Reid |
| "I think primarily people will be looking also at the powers that the assembly and the parliament has, and what local government's doing, and voting on these things as well." | "I think primarily people will be looking also at the powers that the assembly and the parliament has, and what local government's doing, and voting on these things as well." |
| When questioned as to whether Tony Blair had "hung around too long and damaged you in the process", he replied: "Yes well, that, you have, you have to establish." | When questioned as to whether Tony Blair had "hung around too long and damaged you in the process", he replied: "Yes well, that, you have, you have to establish." |
| Tory leader David Cameron has repeated his call for an early election if Mr Brown becomes prime minister this summer. But the chancellor rejected the idea, saying many before him had arrived there mid-term. | Tory leader David Cameron has repeated his call for an early election if Mr Brown becomes prime minister this summer. But the chancellor rejected the idea, saying many before him had arrived there mid-term. |
| Historical perspective | |
| "I didn't hear Mr Cameron or the Conservatives calling for a general election the minute that John Major took over in 1990. | "I didn't hear Mr Cameron or the Conservatives calling for a general election the minute that John Major took over in 1990. |
| He said David Lloyd George, Henry Asquith and Winston Churchill had not faced such calls either. | He said David Lloyd George, Henry Asquith and Winston Churchill had not faced such calls either. |
| "I think you've got to put this in its proper historical perspective, that the British people elect a House of Commons, and out of the House of Commons the leadership is chosen." | "I think you've got to put this in its proper historical perspective, that the British people elect a House of Commons, and out of the House of Commons the leadership is chosen." |
| I have always said that I think Gordon Brown will be and should be the next prime minister of the country Patricia Hewitt | |
| Mr Brown looks increasingly likely to face a Labour leadership challenge after it emerged there will only be one left-wing candidate. | Mr Brown looks increasingly likely to face a Labour leadership challenge after it emerged there will only be one left-wing candidate. |
| Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership bids - have agreed one of them will withdraw based on how much support they have when Mr Blair resigns. | Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell - who had been planning separate leadership bids - have agreed one of them will withdraw based on how much support they have when Mr Blair resigns. |
| The Sunday Times has reported that Mr Blair will back Mr Brown as his successor after Mr Miliband indicated he would not run. | |
| On Sunday Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said she believed Mr Blair would publicly endorse a successor "fairly soon". | |
| And she told Sunday Live on Sky News: "I have always said that I think Gordon Brown will be and should be the next prime minister of the country." |