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Q&A: Blair's exit plans Q&A: Blair-Brown handover
(4 days later)
Tony Blair has announced he is standing down as prime minister after 10 years in the job. What happens next? Tony Blair is standing down as prime minister after 10 years in the job. Gordon Brown is to replace him. Here is a guide to the changes:
When is Mr Blair going?When is Mr Blair going?
Tony Blair has said he will step down as prime minister on 27 June. Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has begun the process of finding a successor. Mr Blair will continue as Labour leader until that process is over. Tony Blair has said he will step down as prime minister on 27 June. Labour's ruling National Executive Committee has gone through the process of finding a successor and Gordon Brown has been the only contender with enough Labour MPs backing him to be considered. However Mr Blair will continue as Labour leader and prime minister for the seven weeks a contest would have taken.
Mr Blair has won three elections in a row. Why is he standing down?Mr Blair has won three elections in a row. Why is he standing down?
When he stood for the Labour leadership in 1994, Mr Blair's close friend and rival Gordon Brown agreed to stand aside to give him a clear run, in return for a promise that power would be handed over at a future date. Then, in 2004, while under fire over Iraq and facing questions about his health after suffering heart problems, Mr Blair became the first serving prime minister to pre-announce his retirement. He said he intended to fight the next (2005) General Election, serve a full third term in office but then stand down rather than fight a fourth election. After winning the election he came under pressure from Labour MPs which ended only after Mr Blair promised last September to go within a year.When he stood for the Labour leadership in 1994, Mr Blair's close friend and rival Gordon Brown agreed to stand aside to give him a clear run, in return for a promise that power would be handed over at a future date. Then, in 2004, while under fire over Iraq and facing questions about his health after suffering heart problems, Mr Blair became the first serving prime minister to pre-announce his retirement. He said he intended to fight the next (2005) General Election, serve a full third term in office but then stand down rather than fight a fourth election. After winning the election he came under pressure from Labour MPs which ended only after Mr Blair promised last September to go within a year.
What will Mr Blair do during his last few weeks in power?What will Mr Blair do during his last few weeks in power?
Mr Blair's supporters will hope he can use the time to help secure his "legacy". Mr Blair will be closely watching the power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland to ensure it succeeds. The forthcoming G8 summit in Germany will be an opportunity to push forward an agreement on climate change and to press for the implementation of the 2005 Gleneagles agreement on aid to the developing world. Mr Blair will also be hoping to find a way to reach a deal on a constitutional treaty which sets out the rules for an expanded European Union without the need for the referendums which sank the EU constitution. Downing Street says Mr Blair still has lots of work to do on domestic issues such as health and education before he quits.Mr Blair's supporters will hope he can use the time to help secure his "legacy". Mr Blair will be closely watching the power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland to ensure it succeeds. The forthcoming G8 summit in Germany will be an opportunity to push forward an agreement on climate change and to press for the implementation of the 2005 Gleneagles agreement on aid to the developing world. Mr Blair will also be hoping to find a way to reach a deal on a constitutional treaty which sets out the rules for an expanded European Union without the need for the referendums which sank the EU constitution. Downing Street says Mr Blair still has lots of work to do on domestic issues such as health and education before he quits.
Who is going to succeed Tony Blair?Who is going to succeed Tony Blair?
It is now seen as a virtual certainty that Chancellor Gordon Brown, the co-creator of New Labour, will be chosen as Labour's next leader. Despite sometimes stormy relations with Mr Blair and his supporters, Mr Brown is not expected to face a challenge from within the Cabinet. He also has the backing of the vast majority of Labour MPs. class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5237874.stm">Possible contenders Chancellor Gordon Brown, the co-creator of New Labour, has now be selected as Labour's next leader. Despite sometimes stormy relations with Mr Blair and his supporters, Mr Brown did not face a challenge from within the Cabinet and his only potential challenger, John McDonnell failed to get the 45 Labour MPs need to back him and force a contest.
Will Gordon Brown be crowned leader without a contest? What happens now?
It's possible. Before being able to run to be Labour leader - or deputy leader - a candidate must gain the backing of 44 other Labour MPs. Currently only Mr Brown looks certain to achieve this. The only other declared challengers - left-wing backbenchers John McDonnell and Michael Meacher - say they will pool their support to try and reach the 45 mark. Whoever has the least support will withdraw from the race and back the other. Labour MPs will have from 1430 BST on Monday 14 May until 1230 BST on Thursday to get nominations. class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5177180.stm">Leadership rules explained Mr Brown will not face a national vote, but he will have to take part in a series of 10 official hustings for Labour members across Britain as he waits for Mr Blair to leave office.
Then what happens? Will Brown change things as PM?
The first in a series of 10 hustings for Labour members across Britain will be held on Sunday 20 May in Coventry. The cut off date for joining the Labour Party and being eligible to vote is 1 June. href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6457597.stm">Contest timetable That remains to be seen. Mr Brown has had huge control over domestic policy over the past ten years and is credited with essentially co-creating New Labour. Opponents seek to portray him as to the left of Tony Blair, but his candidacy has been backed, in the end, by nearly all prominent Blairites. href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6615303.stm">What will Brown do as PM
What if no-one gets enough support among MPs to mount a challenge Mr Brown? So that's that?
The NEC has said that if only one person gets the backing of 45 Labour MPs, there will not be an "affirmative ballot", with just a single name on it. But Mr Brown will be expected to attend hustings around Britain and will not be declared official leader until the seven-week period is over. Not quite. Deputy prime minister John Prescott has also decided to step down from his job and there is a very keenly fought contest to succeed him.
Who gets to vote in the leadership contest?
Labour MPs, members of a trade union who pay the political levy and members of local constituency Labour parties.
What is the threshold for winning?
Any candidate who gets more than half the votes cast will win. In any leadership contest, Mr Brown is seen as likely to achieve this easily.
What about John Prescott?
The deputy Labour leader, and deputy prime minister, John Prescott is also stepping down. The fact that he is stepping down means there will be a contest to choose a new deputy Labour leader, although it will be up to the new prime minister to decide whether or not that person becomes deputy prime minister or not.
Who will succeed him as deputy Labour leader?Who will succeed him as deputy Labour leader?
A genuine contest is more likely here, with six candidates declared, all of them seen as serious contenders. These are: International Development Secretary Hilary Benn; Labour chairman Hazel Blears; backbencher Jon Cruddas; Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain; Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman; and Education Secretary Alan Johnson. Six candidates are in the race. These are: International Development Secretary Hilary Benn; Labour chairman Hazel Blears; backbencher Jon Cruddas; Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain; Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman; and Education Secretary Alan Johnson. class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5237874.stm">Contender-by-contender
So there will be a six-way contest for the deputy leadership? How will the vote work?
Possibly, although it seems unlikely that all of the candidates will gain the 45 signatures necessary to get on to the ballot paper. So far, Mr Hain, Ms Harman and Ms Blears have enough support. Mr Johnson is expected to declare his position soon. Mr Cruddas and Mr Benn both say they are confident of getting onto the ballot paper. As with any leadership contest, the Labour electorate is voted into three sections - Labour MPs and Euro MPs; Labour Party members on 31 May; members of affiliated trade unions. Each part accounts for 33% of the result. People vote using a preference system, ranking the candidates from 1 to 6. The result will be announced at a special conference in Manchester on Sunday 24 June. To win, a candidate must have 50% of the vote. If that is not reached the last placed candidate drops out and their second preference reallocated, and so on, until that figure is reached. class="bodl" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6457597.stm">Contest timetable