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Brown launching bid to be leader Brown 'has what it takes' - Blair
(20 minutes later)
Chancellor Gordon Brown is preparing to officially launch his bid to be the next Labour leader and prime minister. Tony Blair has for the first time endorsed Gordon Brown's bid to succeed him as prime minister, hailing his "extraordinary and rare talent".
He is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Tony Blair, who has announced he will step down on 27 June. He said the chancellor had "what it takes to lead the Labour Party and indeed the country with distinction".
The only other potential contenders, backbench Labour MPs Michael Meacher and John McDonnell, have yet to agree which one will mount a challenge. It comes as Mr Brown, the overwhelming favourite to succeed Mr Blair when he steps down on 27 June, prepares to launch his leadership campaign.
On Friday Mr Blair endorsed Mr Brown's leadership bid for the first time, saying he gave it his "full support". He could still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers.
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."
Gordon would welcome any contest that there is and the opportunity for debate that will bring Leader of the Commons Jack Straw Blair bids farewell to Chirac Analysis: What will PM Brown do?Gordon would welcome any contest that there is and the opportunity for debate that will bring Leader of the Commons Jack Straw Blair bids farewell to Chirac Analysis: What will PM Brown do?
The BBC has been told Blairite MPs Stephen Byers and Alan Milburn will also nominate Mr Brown for the Labour leadership in an apparent effort to bury the hatchet.The BBC has been told Blairite MPs Stephen Byers and Alan Milburn will also nominate Mr Brown for the Labour leadership in an apparent effort to bury the hatchet.
The chancellor is launching his 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.The chancellor is launching his 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.
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.
TerrorismTerrorism
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 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".
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
He would also recognise "that life today in 2007 is different from life in 1997".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.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.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".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".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".
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 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 near as well as Tony Blair and George Bush. 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."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." "And, what's more, the fundamentals of British foreign policy will remain."
DebateDebate
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".
Mr Meacher and Mr McDonnell are still trying to muster enough support between them to mount a challenge. Backbenchers Michael Meacher and John McDonnell are still trying to muster enough support between them to mount a challenge.
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.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) will open 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) will open 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.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 and said he would be taking part.Mr McDonnell said he "welcomed" Mr Brown's offer of a debate on Labour's future direction 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."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."
The prime minister will, meanwhile, travel to Paris later to say farewell to the outgoing French President, Jacques Chirac, and to welcome the President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy.The prime minister will, meanwhile, travel to Paris later to say farewell to the outgoing French President, Jacques Chirac, and to welcome the President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy.
Mr Blair's successor will be announced at a special party conference on June 24.Mr Blair's successor will be announced at a special party conference on June 24.