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Brown elected Labour leader

Hasan Suroor

LONDON:

LONDON: The final countdown to the change of guard in Downing Street began on Sunday with the Chancellor Gordon Brown being elected leader of the Labour Party to succeed Tony Blair, paving the way for him to take over as Britain’s Prime Minister on Wednesday.

With no other contender in the race, Mr. Brown’s election at a special party conference in Manchester was a mere formality, almost a “coronation”.

However, the election for the deputy leader was more dramatic as Harriet Harman, Justice Minister from the “old” Labour wing, emerged as a surprise winner beating five high-profile contenders, to succeed John Prescott.

The shadow of Iraq hung over the proceedings as anti-war protesters held a noisy demonstration outside the conference hall calling for British troops to be withdrawn in what was seen as a reminder to Mr. Brown that how he dealt with the issue would be the first major test of his leadership.

Mr. Blair was given a standing ovation when he went on the stage to make his last speech as party leader and welcome Mr. Brown as his successor. In the speech, which barely lasted a minute, he hailed Mr. Brown as an old friend and a man who had “every quality to mark him out as a great Prime Minister”.

Mr. Blair said critics had expressed misgiving whether the Labour party would be able to ensure a “stable and orderly transition”. “We’ve proved them wrong,” he said amid applause.

In his first speech as the leader-elect, Mr. Brown heaped praise on Mr. Blair describing his record in office as unique. His achievements were “unprecedented” and “enduring”, and under his leadership Britain had become a “stronger” and a “fairer” society.

“Thank you, for what you achieved,” he told Mr. Blair.

Mr. Brown said he would “endeavour to justify every day and in every action” the trust the party had placed in him. He promised to continue the reforms started by Mr. Blair.

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