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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Chancellor gives support to Blair | Chancellor gives support to Blair |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has promised his support to Tony Blair, who has announced his intention to step down as prime minister within the next 12 months. | Gordon Brown has promised his support to Tony Blair, who has announced his intention to step down as prime minister within the next 12 months. |
| The chancellor was speaking on a visit to Glasgow ahead of Mr Blair's announcement on his future. | The chancellor was speaking on a visit to Glasgow ahead of Mr Blair's announcement on his future. |
| Mr Brown said it was for Mr Blair to decide when to step aside and stressed that he would support his decision. | Mr Brown said it was for Mr Blair to decide when to step aside and stressed that he would support his decision. |
| Mr Blair's move came after a number of government resignations and claims of an attempted coup by the chancellor. | Mr Blair's move came after a number of government resignations and claims of an attempted coup by the chancellor. |
| The prime minister did not set a precise date for his departure but said he would do so at a later date. | The prime minister did not set a precise date for his departure but said he would do so at a later date. |
| Mr Blair and Mr Brown were said to have to have had an "acrimonious meeting" on Wednesday over Labour's future. | Mr Blair and Mr Brown were said to have to have had an "acrimonious meeting" on Wednesday over Labour's future. |
| This cannot and should not be about private arrangements but what is in the best interests of our party and, most of all, the best interests of our country Gordon Brown Scottish fears over Blair crisis | This cannot and should not be about private arrangements but what is in the best interests of our party and, most of all, the best interests of our country Gordon Brown Scottish fears over Blair crisis |
| Speaking at an event to mark the opening of the UK Schools Games in Glasgow on Thursday, Mr Brown said that he, like other people, had questions about what was ahead. | Speaking at an event to mark the opening of the UK Schools Games in Glasgow on Thursday, Mr Brown said that he, like other people, had questions about what was ahead. |
| "I want to make it absolutely clear today that when I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him, as I have said on many occasions to him and I repeat today, that it is for him to make the decision," said Mr Brown. | "I want to make it absolutely clear today that when I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him, as I have said on many occasions to him and I repeat today, that it is for him to make the decision," said Mr Brown. |
| "I said also to him, and I make clear again today, that I will support him in the decisions he makes. | "I said also to him, and I make clear again today, that I will support him in the decisions he makes. |
| "This cannot and should not be about private arrangements but what is in the best interests of our party and, most of all, the best interests of our country." | "This cannot and should not be about private arrangements but what is in the best interests of our party and, most of all, the best interests of our country." |
| Mr Brown, who is viewed as the likely successor to Mr Blair, met Labour MSPs in Edinburgh later. | |
| He was applauded after putting the MSPs on a war footing for next year's Holyrood election. | |
| 'Civil war' | 'Civil war' |
| The subject of the prime minister's future had earlier sparked exchanges at first minister's questions in the Scottish Parliament. | |
| The Scottish National Party's Holyrood leader, Nicola Sturgeon, asked Jack McConnell to give his view on the "civil war" engulfing Labour. | The Scottish National Party's Holyrood leader, Nicola Sturgeon, asked Jack McConnell to give his view on the "civil war" engulfing Labour. |
| "As first minister of Scotland, does he think that Tony Blair should stay as prime minister for another year, or should he go?" she asked. | "As first minister of Scotland, does he think that Tony Blair should stay as prime minister for another year, or should he go?" she asked. |
| The prime minister showed no signs the speculation was concerning him | The prime minister showed no signs the speculation was concerning him |
| In response, Mr McConnell said Mr Blair was the most successful Labour prime minister and Mr Brown the most successful Labour chancellor. | In response, Mr McConnell said Mr Blair was the most successful Labour prime minister and Mr Brown the most successful Labour chancellor. |
| "I am very proud of both of them," said the first minister. | "I am very proud of both of them," said the first minister. |
| Speaking after Mr Blair's announcement, SNP leader Alex Salmond said nothing had been resolved. | |
| "We still have a lame duck prime minister resolved to clinging onto the remnants of power, and an over-anxious heir apparent determined to pursue the self-destructive policy that is reducing New Labour to rubble," he said. | |
| Earlier, Pensions Minister Jim Murphy claimed disquiet within the party was limited to only a handful of MPs. | Earlier, Pensions Minister Jim Murphy claimed disquiet within the party was limited to only a handful of MPs. |
| The MP for East Renfrewshire told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The Labour Party collectively, and certainly those most involved in this, have to take a step back." | The MP for East Renfrewshire told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The Labour Party collectively, and certainly those most involved in this, have to take a step back." |
| Four Scottish MPs were among the 15 Labour MPs who signed a letter urging Mr Blair to stand down this week. | Four Scottish MPs were among the 15 Labour MPs who signed a letter urging Mr Blair to stand down this week. |
| They were Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North), Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith), Anne MacKechin (Glasgow North) and David Hamilton (Midlothian). | They were Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North), Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith), Anne MacKechin (Glasgow North) and David Hamilton (Midlothian). |
| Another Scottish MP, Tom Harris (Glasgow South) became transport minister after the resignation of junior government members. | Another Scottish MP, Tom Harris (Glasgow South) became transport minister after the resignation of junior government members. |