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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Stage set for Brown 'coronation' | Stage set for Brown 'coronation' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown will not face a heavyweight challenge for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair stands down this week, key Blair allies have said. | Gordon Brown will not face a heavyweight challenge for the Labour leadership when Tony Blair stands down this week, key Blair allies have said. |
| Mr Brown could still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers. | Mr Brown could still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers. |
| But Blair allies Lord Falconer and pensions secretary John Hutton have both said they expect the chancellor to be the next party leader. | But Blair allies Lord Falconer and pensions secretary John Hutton have both said they expect the chancellor to be the next party leader. |
| And Mr Blair - writing in the News of the World - said Mr Brown can beat the Tories at the next election. | And Mr Blair - writing in the News of the World - said Mr Brown can beat the Tories at the next election. |
| Mr Blair is expected to announce a timetable for his departure on Thursday - but will continue to serve as prime minister during a seven week Labour leadership and deputy leadership contest. | Mr Blair is expected to announce a timetable for his departure on Thursday - but will continue to serve as prime minister during a seven week Labour leadership and deputy leadership contest. |
| He has already said he expects Mr Brown to take over as prime minister "within weeks" and has repeatedly praised the chancellor's stewardship of the economy. | He has already said he expects Mr Brown to take over as prime minister "within weeks" and has repeatedly praised the chancellor's stewardship of the economy. |
| 'Judgement' | 'Judgement' |
| But in an article for the News of the World, he appeared to go further by suggesting Mr Brown could lead the party to a fourth consecutive election victory. | But in an article for the News of the World, he appeared to go further by suggesting Mr Brown could lead the party to a fourth consecutive election victory. |
| I don't think it's right to have a contest when there is no appetite for one Lord Falconer | I don't think it's right to have a contest when there is no appetite for one Lord Falconer |
| Mr Blair argued acknowledged Labour had a fight on its hands to win a fourth term but he insisted it could bounce back from Thursday's setbacks at the polls in Scotland, England and Wales. | Mr Blair argued acknowledged Labour had a fight on its hands to win a fourth term but he insisted it could bounce back from Thursday's setbacks at the polls in Scotland, England and Wales. |
| But he said the Tories' policies were a "mess" and were not "not thought through". | But he said the Tories' policies were a "mess" and were not "not thought through". |
| He went on: "Gordon Brown by contrast is completely thought through. | He went on: "Gordon Brown by contrast is completely thought through. |
| "He has steered our economy from one of boom and bust to one of the best in the world. | "He has steered our economy from one of boom and bust to one of the best in the world. |
| "He didn't do it by choosing the easy way. He did it by sound judgment, holding his nerve and putting the long-term interests of Britain first. | "He didn't do it by choosing the easy way. He did it by sound judgment, holding his nerve and putting the long-term interests of Britain first. |
| "At general election time, that is still the route to victory." | "At general election time, that is still the route to victory." |
| 'Clear run' | 'Clear run' |
| The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, also predicted that Mr Brown would become prime minister. | The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, also predicted that Mr Brown would become prime minister. |
| He told Sky News: "That would be my judgment, that Gordon Brown will be the next leader of the Labour Party." | He told Sky News: "That would be my judgment, that Gordon Brown will be the next leader of the Labour Party." |
| He added: "Gordon Brown is a towering figure in the Labour Party. | He added: "Gordon Brown is a towering figure in the Labour Party. |
| "I don't think it's right to have a contest when there is no appetite for one. | "I don't think it's right to have a contest when there is no appetite for one. |
| Asked whether Mr Brown could lead Labour to general election success, he said: "Without doubt." | Asked whether Mr Brown could lead Labour to general election success, he said: "Without doubt." |
| Work and pensions secretary John Hutton - another key Blair ally tipped at one time as a possible leadership challenger - also threw his weight behind Mr Brown, telling GMTV he would "do everything I can" to help the chancellor. | Work and pensions secretary John Hutton - another key Blair ally tipped at one time as a possible leadership challenger - also threw his weight behind Mr Brown, telling GMTV he would "do everything I can" to help the chancellor. |
| On Friday, former Home Secretary Charles Clarke - long tipped as a possible Blairite challenger - said he would not be standing against Mr Brown. | On Friday, former Home Secretary Charles Clarke - long tipped as a possible Blairite challenger - said he would not be standing against Mr Brown. |
| Home Secretary John Reid has said he will vote for Mr Brown, after announcing his resignation from the cabinet when Tony Blair goes. | |
| Education Secretary Alan Johnson, who is bidding to be Labour's deputy leader, welcomed Mr Clarke's decision not to stand. | Education Secretary Alan Johnson, who is bidding to be Labour's deputy leader, welcomed Mr Clarke's decision not to stand. |
| "I think Gordon is superior in the sense of his intellect, his experience, his drive his energy, that everyone including me thinks he's the best candidate," he told BBC1's Sunday AM. | "I think Gordon is superior in the sense of his intellect, his experience, his drive his energy, that everyone including me thinks he's the best candidate," he told BBC1's Sunday AM. |
| 'Exciting' | 'Exciting' |
| Mr Johnson added that Labour would enjoy a "bounce" if Mr Brown took over from Mr Blair. | Mr Johnson added that Labour would enjoy a "bounce" if Mr Brown took over from Mr Blair. |
| But former environment minister, and leadership hopeful, Michael Meacher said he doubted Mr Brown's ability to turn the party around, arguing New Labour had "run its course". | But former environment minister, and leadership hopeful, Michael Meacher said he doubted Mr Brown's ability to turn the party around, arguing New Labour had "run its course". |
| "Whoever is the new leader, it's not just a question of changing the face, it's a question of reinvigorating, exciting the enthusiasm and imagination of our supporters. We clearly lost it," he told BBC1's Sunday AM. | "Whoever is the new leader, it's not just a question of changing the face, it's a question of reinvigorating, exciting the enthusiasm and imagination of our supporters. We clearly lost it," he told BBC1's Sunday AM. |
| Mr Meacher said he and fellow left-wing challenger John McDonnell had made a deal that they would not stand against each other for the party leadership. | Mr Meacher said he and fellow left-wing challenger John McDonnell had made a deal that they would not stand against each other for the party leadership. |
| The pair will decide in the middle of this week which of them has the most support and throw their weight behind that person. | The pair will decide in the middle of this week which of them has the most support and throw their weight behind that person. |
| Mr Meacher said it was "very likely" one of the two would achieve the support of the 44 MPs needed to enter a leadership contest against Mr Brown. | Mr Meacher said it was "very likely" one of the two would achieve the support of the 44 MPs needed to enter a leadership contest against Mr Brown. |