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Brown launches Labour leader bid Brown launches Labour leader bid
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has said he has the "new ideas and vision" to lead Britain as he launched his long-awaited Labour leadership campaign in central London.Gordon Brown has said he has the "new ideas and vision" to lead Britain as he launched his long-awaited Labour leadership campaign in central London.
He praised Tony Blair and pledged to make Britain "one of the great success stories of the new century".He praised Tony Blair and pledged to make Britain "one of the great success stories of the new century".
But the launch suffered a hitch with Mr Brown's face obscured by glass autocues on live TV coverage of the speech.But the launch suffered a hitch with Mr Brown's face obscured by glass autocues on live TV coverage of the speech.
Mr Blair earlier endorsed Mr Brown's bid to succeed him as prime minister, saying "he has what it takes".Mr Blair earlier endorsed Mr Brown's bid to succeed him as prime minister, saying "he has what it takes".
I want to lead a government humble enough to know its place - where I will always strive to be - and that is on people's side Gordon Brown Profile: Gordon Brown What will he do as PM?I want to lead a government humble enough to know its place - where I will always strive to be - and that is on people's side Gordon Brown Profile: Gordon Brown What will he do as PM?
Launching his campaign at the Imagination Gallery in central London, Mr Brown said Mr Blair "has led our country for ten years with distinction - with courage, passion and insight".Launching his campaign at the Imagination Gallery in central London, Mr Brown said Mr Blair "has led our country for ten years with distinction - with courage, passion and insight".
But he added: "In the weeks and months ahead, my task is to show I have the new ideas, the vision and the experience to earn the trust of the British people."But he added: "In the weeks and months ahead, my task is to show I have the new ideas, the vision and the experience to earn the trust of the British people."
Mr Brown said he welcomed any challengers for the leadership and pledged to lead a different form of government, which "listened" to people.Mr Brown said he welcomed any challengers for the leadership and pledged to lead a different form of government, which "listened" to people.
"I will listen and I will learn. I will strive to meet people's aspirations."I will listen and I will learn. I will strive to meet people's aspirations.
"I want to lead a government humble enough to know its place - where I will always strive to be - and that is on people's side.""I want to lead a government humble enough to know its place - where I will always strive to be - and that is on people's side."
Parliament
He pledged to lead a government "of all the talents" and said he wanted to build a "stronger shared national interest in our country."
He rejected Conservative calls for a snap election, saying the opposition did not call for an election in 1990, when Margaret Thatcher stood down.
He also denied he would move the government to the left, saying he would continue to "drive forward" New Labour reforms to the public services.
But he said he wanted to strengthen Britain's constitution and give more power to MPs.
He can make a real difference to this country for the better and for the good Tony Blair Blair bids farewell to Chirac In Full: Brown's speech
"One of my first acts as prime minister would be to restore power to Parliament in order to build the trust of the British people in our democracy.
"Government must be more open and more accountable to Parliament - for example in decisions about peace and war, in public appointments and in a new ministerial code of conduct."
People applying for top public jobs may face Parliamentary hearings, in an effort to "open" the process up.
Mr Brown also suggested Britain could get its first written constitution, which would set out poeple's rights and responsibilities.
On Iraq, he said there needed to be a "greater emphasis" on economic development, saying "there are too many people in Iraq who don't have a stake in the country, too many people unemployed."
ChallengeChallenge
Mr Brown is the firm favourite to succeed Mr Blair when he quits on 27 June but could still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers.Mr Brown is the firm favourite to succeed Mr Blair when he quits on 27 June but could still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers.
But there appears to be a coordinated effort among Labour MPs to unite behind Mr Brown, with Blairite MPs Stephen Byers and Alan Milburn also expected to nominate Mr Brown.But there appears to be a coordinated effort among Labour MPs to unite behind Mr Brown, with Blairite MPs Stephen Byers and Alan Milburn also expected to nominate Mr Brown.
He can make a real difference to this country for the better and for the good Tony Blair Blair bids farewell to Chirac In Full: Brown's speech
Mr Blair, who until now has held back from endorsing Mr Brown's bid to replace him, said: "I am absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister and to endorse him fully."Mr Blair, who until now has held back from endorsing Mr Brown's bid to replace him, said: "I am absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister and to endorse him fully."
He added: "He has shown, as perhaps the most successful Chancellor in our country's history, that he's got the strength and the experience and the judgment to make a great prime minister."He added: "He has shown, as perhaps the most successful Chancellor in our country's history, that he's got the strength and the experience and the judgment to make a great prime minister."
Mr Brown was "absolutely determined to drive the modernisation of the country forward in order to meet the challenges of the coming decade", Mr Blair added.Mr Brown was "absolutely determined to drive the modernisation of the country forward in order to meet the challenges of the coming decade", Mr Blair added.
'Reach out''Reach out'
"I also believe that, as someone who has known him for over 20 years as a friend and a colleague, he can make a real difference to this country for the better and for the good," he said."I also believe that, as someone who has known him for over 20 years as a friend and a colleague, he can make a real difference to this country for the better and for the good," he said.
But shadow chancellor George Osborne, for the Conservatives, said Mr Brown as chancellor had been "responsible for the failures of the past 10 years".But shadow chancellor George Osborne, for the Conservatives, said Mr Brown as chancellor had been "responsible for the failures of the past 10 years".
HAVE YOUR SAY I feel like Brown has been snuck in through the back door Luke Frost, Sunderland Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I feel like Brown has been snuck in through the back door Luke Frost, Sunderland Send us your comments
"When you look at the things people are really fed up with, like the collapse of the pension system, like the failure to get money to the frontline of the health service, Gordon Brown is more responsible for that than any other politician including Tony Blair," Mr Osborne told BBC News 24."When you look at the things people are really fed up with, like the collapse of the pension system, like the failure to get money to the frontline of the health service, Gordon Brown is more responsible for that than any other politician including Tony Blair," Mr Osborne told BBC News 24.
Referring to Labour's heavy election losses last week, he added: "I don't see how he could be the change that the country wants and the country voted for."Referring to Labour's heavy election losses last week, he added: "I don't see how he could be the change that the country wants and the country voted for."
Mr Brown launched his leadership campaign under the slogan Brown for Britain, with a tour of marginal constituencies in the South East of England, where he will set out his proposals to make the country a "better and fairer" place. Mr Brown launched his leadership campaign under the slogan Brown for Britain, with a tour of marginal constituencies in the South East of England.
Commons leader Jack Straw, Mr Brown's campaign manager, said he wanted to "reach out" to the voters that had brought Labour to power in 1997.Commons leader Jack Straw, Mr Brown's campaign manager, said he wanted to "reach out" to the voters that had brought Labour to power in 1997.
Terrorism
He told BBC Breakfast Mr Brown wanted to "build on the achievements of the New Labour government under Tony Blair as well as listening and learning from the things that haven't gone as well".
He would also recognise "that life today in 2007 is different from life in 1997".
Issues such as climate change and terrorism were "not there so starkly 10 years ago" and had to be addressed, added Mr Straw.
He also suggested Mr Brown could introduce Britain' first written constitution, in an attempt to restore people's trust in politics.
Mr Straw hit back at criticism of Mr Brown's "dour" personality, saying "appearances can be deceptive".
US relationsUS relations
He said people would see a different side to the chancellor when he became prime minister and was able to "play to his wider strengths". Mr Straw denied suggestions there would be a cooling in relations between Downing Street and Washington under a Brown premiership.
BLAIR ANNOUNCEMENT Q&A: What happens now? Analysis: Blair's exit messageBLAIR ANNOUNCEMENT Q&A: What happens now? Analysis: Blair's exit message
He also denied claims there would be a cooling in relations between Downing Street and Washington under a Brown premiership. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Gordon Brown and George Bush don't know each other anywhere nearly as well as Tony Blair and George Bush. That relationship will develop."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Gordon Brown and George Bush don't know each other anywhere nearly as well as Tony Blair and George Bush.
"That relationship will develop. But I am clear certainly from my own conversations with George Bush that the relationship will develop.
"And, what's more, the fundamentals of British foreign policy will remain."
Debate
He said Mr Brown would welcome a contest for the leadership and the "opportunity for debate that will bring".He said Mr Brown would welcome a contest for the leadership and the "opportunity for debate that will bring".
Backbenchers Michael Meacher and John McDonnell are still trying to muster enough support between them to mount a leadership bid.Backbenchers Michael Meacher and John McDonnell are still trying to muster enough support between them to mount a leadership bid.
The two rivals were meant to reach agreement on Thursday on who would take on Mr Brown but the BBC understands there was confusion after some Labour MPs pledged support to both men.
They will now meet on Monday - when Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) opens nominations - and the one with the fewest confirmed backers will stand aside.They will now meet on Monday - when Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) opens nominations - and the one with the fewest confirmed backers will stand aside.
Both camps insist it is too close to call between the two of them - and that between they have the 45 nominations needed for one of them to get on to the ballot paper.
Mr McDonnell said he "welcomed" Mr Brown's offer of a debate on Labour's future direction at a Fabian Society conference on Sunday and said he would be taking part.
But he added: "If Gordon wanted a real debate when Labour party members had the chance to vote he could ensure that both prospective challengers were on the ballot paper by asking this Sunday's NEC to lower the nomination level required for a candidate to stand."