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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Brown prepares to succeed Blair | Brown prepares to succeed Blair |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown is set to become the UK's prime minister, bringing to an end Tony Blair's 10 years in power. | Gordon Brown is set to become the UK's prime minister, bringing to an end Tony Blair's 10 years in power. |
| Mr Blair will see the Queen and leave office after his final prime minister's questions session in the Commons and saying farewell to Downing St staff. | Mr Blair will see the Queen and leave office after his final prime minister's questions session in the Commons and saying farewell to Downing St staff. |
| Mr Brown is then expected to travel to meet the Queen, who will formally offer him the role in the early afternoon. | Mr Brown is then expected to travel to meet the Queen, who will formally offer him the role in the early afternoon. |
| Mr Blair is also thought likely to quit as an MP - if he is confirmed in his new job as a Middle East peace envoy. | Mr Blair is also thought likely to quit as an MP - if he is confirmed in his new job as a Middle East peace envoy. |
| The so-called "quartet" - of the UN, America, Russia and the EU - are thought likely to make an announcement on the position later. | The so-called "quartet" - of the UN, America, Russia and the EU - are thought likely to make an announcement on the position later. |
| Mr Brown is expected to begin his Cabinet reshuffle by naming the next chancellor and home secretary. | Mr Brown is expected to begin his Cabinet reshuffle by naming the next chancellor and home secretary. |
| Blair 'fine' | Blair 'fine' |
| Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, a close ally of Mr Brown, is widely tipped to become chancellor. | Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, a close ally of Mr Brown, is widely tipped to become chancellor. |
| EXPECTED TIMETABLE 1200 - 1230: Final PMQs1300: Blair says farewell to staff at No 101305: Blair departs for Palace, where he will officially tender resignation in private audience with Queen1330: Brown departs Treasury with wife Sarah1340: Blair leaves Palace1340: Brown arrives at Palace where Queen will ask him to form a government1430: Brown leaves Palace1445: Brown enters No 10 for first time as prime minister Times are a guide and subject to change | |
| John Reid has also said he will step down as home secretary, leaving another Cabinet seat empty. | John Reid has also said he will step down as home secretary, leaving another Cabinet seat empty. |
| Mr Reid said he had spoken to Mr Blair by telephone on Tuesday evening and he was "fine" about leaving Downing Street. | Mr Reid said he had spoken to Mr Blair by telephone on Tuesday evening and he was "fine" about leaving Downing Street. |
| A fuller reshuffle of government jobs is expected on Thursday. | A fuller reshuffle of government jobs is expected on Thursday. |
| Mr Brown, who has been chancellor since Mr Blair became prime minister in 1997, has promised to create a government "of all the talents". | Mr Brown, who has been chancellor since Mr Blair became prime minister in 1997, has promised to create a government "of all the talents". |
| 'Bittersweet day' | 'Bittersweet day' |
| He has already offered former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown the job of Northern Ireland secretary, but this was turned down. | He has already offered former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown the job of Northern Ireland secretary, but this was turned down. |
| We will remember Tony Blair with affection, pride and admiration, but today as well is Gordon Brown's day Hazel Blears, Labour chairman Voters panel: Goodbye Blair Blair 'to be Mid East envoy' | |
| Hazel Blears' role as party chairman is due to be taken over by Harriet Harman, who won the contest to be Labour's deputy leader. | Hazel Blears' role as party chairman is due to be taken over by Harriet Harman, who won the contest to be Labour's deputy leader. |
| Asked about whether she had spoken to Mr Brown about getting a new job, Ms Blears said: "We have had a chat but in politics you cannot predict anything." | Asked about whether she had spoken to Mr Brown about getting a new job, Ms Blears said: "We have had a chat but in politics you cannot predict anything." |
| She said it was a "bittersweet day" for the party. | She said it was a "bittersweet day" for the party. |
| "We will remember Tony Blair with affection, pride and admiration, but today as well is Gordon Brown's day and I think that sense of Labour really renewing itself, not just in terms of the faces and personalities but also that sense of energy dynamism, going forward," she told GMTV. | "We will remember Tony Blair with affection, pride and admiration, but today as well is Gordon Brown's day and I think that sense of Labour really renewing itself, not just in terms of the faces and personalities but also that sense of energy dynamism, going forward," she told GMTV. |
| Iraq 'divisive' | Iraq 'divisive' |
| Mr Brown has singled out education and affordable housing as two of his key concerns, but says the NHS is his "immediate priority". | Mr Brown has singled out education and affordable housing as two of his key concerns, but says the NHS is his "immediate priority". |
| He has also admitted that Iraq is "a divisive issue for our party and our country" and pledged to "learn lessons that need to be learned". | He has also admitted that Iraq is "a divisive issue for our party and our country" and pledged to "learn lessons that need to be learned". |
| The parents of soldiers who have died in Iraq will protest in Downing Street as Mr Blair leaves No 10. | The parents of soldiers who have died in Iraq will protest in Downing Street as Mr Blair leaves No 10. |
| Members of Military Families Against the War say they are determined the outgoing PM "will not be allowed to forget the suffering he has caused". | Members of Military Families Against the War say they are determined the outgoing PM "will not be allowed to forget the suffering he has caused". |
| George Bush supports a plan to make Mr Blair a Middle East envoy | George Bush supports a plan to make Mr Blair a Middle East envoy |
| The mechanics of leaving office, mean Mr Blair is expected to have his final prime minister's questions in the Commons, then travel to Downing Street to say farewell to staff before heading to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen and resign. | The mechanics of leaving office, mean Mr Blair is expected to have his final prime minister's questions in the Commons, then travel to Downing Street to say farewell to staff before heading to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen and resign. |
| Mr Brown will then be asked to the Palace where in a meeting with the Queen he will formally become prime minister. | Mr Brown will then be asked to the Palace where in a meeting with the Queen he will formally become prime minister. |
| Once he leaves office, Mr Blair is expected to travel to his Sedgefield constituency, in the north east of England, on Wednesday evening to announce he is standing down as an MP after 24 years. | Once he leaves office, Mr Blair is expected to travel to his Sedgefield constituency, in the north east of England, on Wednesday evening to announce he is standing down as an MP after 24 years. |
| It is thought the decision to step down as a MP depends on him being confirmed by the Middle East "quartet" as an envoy to the region. | It is thought the decision to step down as a MP depends on him being confirmed by the Middle East "quartet" as an envoy to the region. |
| John Prescott will step down from frontline politics after 10 years as deputy prime minister. It is not certain whether Mr Brown will appoint a replacement. | John Prescott will step down from frontline politics after 10 years as deputy prime minister. It is not certain whether Mr Brown will appoint a replacement. |