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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'unlikely to face PM fight' | Brown 'unlikely to face PM fight' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown is unlikely to face a serious challenge in his expected bid to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister, the BBC has learned. | Chancellor Gordon Brown is unlikely to face a serious challenge in his expected bid to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister, the BBC has learned. |
| A contest for the Labour leadership had seemed certain after Mr Blair announced in September that he would leave Downing Street within a year. | |
| But sources now say it is becoming more likely that no heavyweight challenger to Mr Brown will emerge. | But sources now say it is becoming more likely that no heavyweight challenger to Mr Brown will emerge. |
| Left-wing MP John McDonnell has said he plans to stand in any contest. | Left-wing MP John McDonnell has said he plans to stand in any contest. |
| 'Almost certainly Gordon' | 'Almost certainly Gordon' |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some senior Labour figures had come to believe Mr Brown was "simply unstoppable". | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some senior Labour figures had come to believe Mr Brown was "simply unstoppable". |
| He added: "We've gone from 'anyone but Gordon' to the Labour Party thinking 'it's almost certainly Gordon'." | He added: "We've gone from 'anyone but Gordon' to the Labour Party thinking 'it's almost certainly Gordon'." |
| Mr McDonnell said he wanted to avoid a "coronation" of Mr Blair's successor and to give Labour a chance to decide its next leader. | Mr McDonnell said he wanted to avoid a "coronation" of Mr Blair's successor and to give Labour a chance to decide its next leader. |
| There has been speculation that former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, Home Secretary John Reid and Education Secretary Alan Johnson - all Blairites - would stand, although none has made an announcement. | There has been speculation that former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, Home Secretary John Reid and Education Secretary Alan Johnson - all Blairites - would stand, although none has made an announcement. |
| Mr Milburn is considered an "ultra-Blairite" and gave a series of speeches in September which were taken to indicate his willingness to lead the party. | Mr Milburn is considered an "ultra-Blairite" and gave a series of speeches in September which were taken to indicate his willingness to lead the party. |
| Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton has said there should be a contest, but refused to comment on whether he would stand. | Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton has said there should be a contest, but refused to comment on whether he would stand. |
| Candidates for the deputy leadership have been more forthcoming, with Hilary Benn, John Cruddas, Peter Hain and Harriet Harman all declaring their ambitions to take over when John Prescott leaves. | Candidates for the deputy leadership have been more forthcoming, with Hilary Benn, John Cruddas, Peter Hain and Harriet Harman all declaring their ambitions to take over when John Prescott leaves. |