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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown to launch leadership bid | Brown to launch leadership bid |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown is set to officially launch his bid to be the next Labour leader. | Chancellor Gordon Brown is set to officially launch his bid to be the next Labour leader. |
| Following Tony Blair's announcement that he will step down on 27 June, the process of selecting a successor begins - with Mr Brown seen as the favourite. | Following Tony Blair's announcement that he will step down on 27 June, the process of selecting a successor begins - with Mr Brown seen as the favourite. |
| Would-be contenders Michael Meacher and John McDonnell have yet to declare if they have enough support to mount a challenge against him. | Would-be contenders Michael Meacher and John McDonnell have yet to declare if they have enough support to mount a challenge against him. |
| Mr Brown praised the PM's achievements as "unique" and "enduring." | Mr Brown praised the PM's achievements as "unique" and "enduring." |
| Mr Brown is expected to set out his priorities for Britain during a tour of marginal constituencies in London and south east England. | Mr Brown is expected to set out his priorities for Britain during a tour of marginal constituencies in London and south east England. |
| Mr Blair first told the Cabinet of his departure plans on Thursday, before travelling to his constituency to make a speech to party activists. | Mr Blair first told the Cabinet of his departure plans on Thursday, before travelling to his constituency to make a speech to party activists. |
| At all times he tried to do the right thing Gordon BrownChancellor | At all times he tried to do the right thing Gordon BrownChancellor |
| He acknowledged his government had not always lived up to high expectations but said he had been "very blessed" to lead "the greatest nation on earth". | He acknowledged his government had not always lived up to high expectations but said he had been "very blessed" to lead "the greatest nation on earth". |
| Mr Brown, who attended the Cabinet meeting, said of Mr Blair that people would remember "how he led the country after 7 July, how he responded for the world after 11 September in America, how he responded to the tragic death of Princess Diana". | Mr Brown, who attended the Cabinet meeting, said of Mr Blair that people would remember "how he led the country after 7 July, how he responded for the world after 11 September in America, how he responded to the tragic death of Princess Diana". |
| He said Mr Blair's legacy would also be better public services and a strong economy adding: "At all times he tried to do the right thing". | |
| US relationship | US relationship |
| Mr Brown gave the first hint that under his leadership there may be a cooling in Britain's relationship with the US. | |
| In an interview with this week's Time magazine, he was pointedly non-committal - talking only of the strong shared values and interests of Britain and America and his belief that they will endure. | In an interview with this week's Time magazine, he was pointedly non-committal - talking only of the strong shared values and interests of Britain and America and his belief that they will endure. |
| BLAIR ANNOUNCEMENT Q&A: What happens now? Analysis: Blair's exit message | BLAIR ANNOUNCEMENT Q&A: What happens now? Analysis: Blair's exit message |
| Asked if, after his meeting last month with the president, he believes President Bush is a man he can do business with, he replied: "President Bush is the elected leader of the American people. I was pleased to have the chance to talk to him ... I have over the years worked with different administrations ... And I think with both parties in America relationships are strong." | Asked if, after his meeting last month with the president, he believes President Bush is a man he can do business with, he replied: "President Bush is the elected leader of the American people. I was pleased to have the chance to talk to him ... I have over the years worked with different administrations ... And I think with both parties in America relationships are strong." |
| In the article Mr Brown also warned against expectations of a 100-day policy blitz, saying he will have a wider focus on winning public support and enthusiasm. | In the article Mr Brown also warned against expectations of a 100-day policy blitz, saying he will have a wider focus on winning public support and enthusiasm. |
| On Iraq, he said he accepted responsibility as a Cabinet member and admits there are lessons to be learned, but adds: "There will be no sense in which we seek to walk away from decisions we made." | On Iraq, he said he accepted responsibility as a Cabinet member and admits there are lessons to be learned, but adds: "There will be no sense in which we seek to walk away from decisions we made." |
| Mr Brown is unlikely to face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership. | |
| But he could still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers - Mr McDonnell and Mr Meacher. | But he could still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers - Mr McDonnell and Mr Meacher. |
| The pair met on Thursday as planned to see who had the most support, with the idea that the one with the least support stepping aside. | The pair met on Thursday as planned to see who had the most support, with the idea that the one with the least support stepping aside. |
| However a press conference after that meeting was cancelled, with the two saying their numbers of backers were "too close to call" and further clarification were needed, with a decision postponed to Monday. | However a press conference after that meeting was cancelled, with the two saying their numbers of backers were "too close to call" and further clarification were needed, with a decision postponed to Monday. |
| Candidates need the signatures of 45 Labour MPs to enter a contest. | Candidates need the signatures of 45 Labour MPs to enter a contest. |