Global General

Britain's David Cameron becomes PM; Brown out

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-12 06:38
Large Medium Small

Brown said he had "loved the job, not for its prestige, its titles and its ceremony, which I do not love at all."

Britain's David Cameron becomes PM; Brown out
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, accompanied by his wife Sarah (L), speaks in front of his official residence of 10 Downing Street in London May 11, 2010.[Agencies]

"No, I loved the job for its potential to make this country I love fairer, more tolerant, more green, more democratic, more prosperous, more just — truly a greater Britain."

After his brief statement, the 59-year-old Brown walked hand-in-hand with his wife and young sons John and Fraser down Downing Street, where a car waited to take him to the palace.

Brown spent about 15 minutes inside the palace and was then driven away — no longer Britain's leader. Minutes later he arrived at Labour Party headquarters, where he was greeted warmly by cheering staffers.

Brown told party staff that his deputy Harriet Harman would become interim Labour leader until a formal leadership takes place to select his permanent successor.

Brown's resignation ended five days of uncertainty after last week's general election left the country with no clear winner. It left Britain with its first so-called hung Parliament since 1974. Britain's Conservatives won the most seats but fell short of a majority, forcing them to bid against the Labour Party for the loyalty of the Lib Dems.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the details of a deal were being worked on, but he would be "very surprised" if an agreement was formally announced before Wednesday.

"Nothing has been formally agreed," he said. "There has been a lot of progress.

"The details are currently in the process of being sorted."

Clegg's Liberal Democrats have a more complex process, and may need to hold a meeting of around 200-300 grass roots members to formally ratify the coalition. Their joint government needs to be in place in time to draft a legislative program that will be announced in Parliament on May 25.

Brown's departure follows three successive election victories for his center-left Labour Party, all of which were won by his predecessor Tony Blair, who ousted the Conservatives in 1997.

   Previous Page 1 2 3 Next Page