Brown to step down as Labour leader

ChocolateSauce

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8672859.stm

BBC wrote:

Gordon Brown has said he is stepping down as Labour Party leader - as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government.
Mr Brown, prime minister since 2007, said he hoped a successor as Labour leader would be in place by September.
The Lib Dems have been negotiating for days with the Tories - who won the most seats and votes in the UK election.
But the Lib Dems have asked for formal talks with Labour. Mr Brown said it was in the "national interest" to respond.
Mr Brown's statement will be seen as a move to smooth the way to a deal between Labour and the Liberal Democrats to form a government.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it was an audacious bid by Mr Brown to keep Labour in power - and himself in power for a limited period.
Voters' judgement
It comes after further talks between the Tory and Lib Dem negotiating teams and another meeting between Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.
Mr Clegg's team then talked through options with Lib Dem MPs, who urged them to continue to listen to Labour, while seeking further clarification from the Tories about key areas of policy.
Meanwhile Mr Cameron is meeting Conservative MPs and the Cabinet is meeting in Downing Street.
In his statement, Mr Brown said Britain had a "parliamentary and not presidential system" and said there was a "progressive majority" of voters.

I will play no part in that contest, I will back no individual candidate
Gordon Brown

Lib Dems seek more Tory details
Gordon Brown's rise and fall
He said if the national interest could be best served by a coalition between the Lib Dems and Labour he would "discharge that duty to form that government".
But he added that no party had won an overall majority in the UK general election and, as Labour leader, he had to accept that as a judgement on him.
"I therefore intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election.
"I would hope that it would be completed in time for the new leader to be in post by the time of the Labour Party conference.
"I will play no part in that contest, I will back no individual candidate."
Formal process
Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg had requested formal negotiations with Labour and it was "sensible and in the national interest" to respond positively to the request, Mr Brown said.
He said a "formal policy negotiation process" would be established.
It emerged earlier that the Lib Dem negotiating team, who have held days of talks with the Conservatives, had also met senior Labour figures in private.

I think the country passed its verdict. Gordon, they want you to go now
Nigel Evans
Conservative MP
Labour leader: Runners and riders
In quotes: Resignation reaction

The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said one of the stumbling blocks to any Lib Dem-Labour deal had been Mr Brown himself.
John Mann, the first Labour MP to call for him to go after the election result, said Mr Brown had made a "wise and brave" decision.
And the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson said it was "inevitable" Mr Brown would have to go and he had "done the right thing". He said he believed a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the Lib Dems and the SNP which would "deliver the best result for the people of Scotland".
No majority
But Conservative MP Nigel Evans told the BBC: "The fact he's going in September, I think the country passed its verdict. Gordon, they want you to go now."
And fellow Conservative Richard Ottaway said the "numbers don't add up" for Labour and the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition.
"A Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition is only a handful more than the Conservative Party on its own and it would not be able to hold the line on this for very long," he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
The Tories secured 306 of the 649 constituencies contested on 6 May. It leaves the party short of the 326 MPs needed for an outright majority, with the Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - still to vote.
Labour finished with 258 MPs, down 91, the Lib Dems 57, down five, and other parties 28.
If Labour and the Lib Dems joined forces, they would still not have an overall majority.
With the support of the Northern Irish SDLP, one Alliance MP, and nationalists from Scotland and Wales they would reach 328, rising to 338 if the DUP, the independent unionist and the new Green MP joined them

Not unexpected....although now if there's a lab-lib pact, none of the three men who debated in the PM debates will be PM....how odd British politics is!

goat2

who is the most likely to fill his shoes,
i guess after being caught out speaking so bad of the lady, his days were up

sparkling sea

David Miliband, the new young hope who looks even better on camera then Cameron and Clegg.

I wonder with Miliband as PM will Clegg want the Chancellors job or will he inists its given to Vince Cable?

ninty9er

sparkling sea wrote: »

David Miliband, the new young hope who looks even better on camera then Cameron and Clegg.

I wonder with Miliband as PM will Clegg want the Chancellors job or will he inists its given to Vince Cable?

Given his background I'd say he'd want Business, Innovation and Skills or one of the education portfolios, however, he could keep an eye on everything if he was Minister for Cabinet Office.

I think Chief Secretary to the Treasury is the best Cable could hope for, as Osborne is going to be Chancellor of the Exchequer if a coalition of the Tories and Lib Dems is formed. However, Darling would be easier to shift I think.

m@cc@

goat2 wrote: »

i guess after being caught out speaking so bad of the lady, his days were up

Along with the fact that he was never up to the job.

ninty9er

goat2 wrote: »

i guess after being caught out speaking so bad of the lady, his days were up

That was one of his more redeeming moments recently as far as I'm concerned. Probably lost votes by apologising and backing down. Certainly Lib Dem votes:pac:

RATM

This now opens up the way for the Lib Dems to do business with Labour.

However that means Clegg will have to go into coalition with a leaderless party and be blinded as to who the personality who is to become PM will actually be. The bookies haev Milliband 4/9 on whilst Ed Balls is 2nd favourite at 2/1. I'd say thats a good indicator of who'll get the job but Clegg won't know that for sure till he's signed up for coalition.

Labour is the easy way out for Clegg- if he goes with the Tories he could face defections in his party pretty quick.

Jason McCabe

If Brown would have stepped aside a year ago the labour party would probably have got back into power

He was way too tarnished with his BOOM and BUST speeches and being there when britain went into IRAQ

If I was voting in the UK I would lean towards Labour but NO way would I have voted them with Gordon at the helm. I would have voted Lib Dem for sure


I do think Miliband might get the job. He is astute and comes accross well on TV. Something boring old Gordon didn't do to the masses.

steelcityblues

David Milliband may win this, but he could be a turnoff to the more 'heartland' Labour voters - too much of the Blair polished insincerity about him!

loldog

steelcityblues wrote: »

David Milliband may win this, but he could be a turnoff to the more 'heartland' Labour voters - too much of the Blair polished insincerity about him!

Aye, too much like Blair. I think Ed Liathróidí would be more to their liking.

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LordSutch

loldog wrote: »

I think Ed Liathróidí would be more to their liking.

I agree with you about David Milliband, but who is Ed Liathróidí ?

ninty9er

steelcityblues wrote: »

David Milliband may win this, but he could be a turnoff to the more 'heartland' Labour voters - too much of the Blair polished insincerity about him!

But his little brother might just appeal to the middle ground. He comes across more grounded and sincere and is 3rd favourite at the moment.

loldog

Camelot wrote: »

I agree with you about David Milliband, but who is Ed Liathróidí ?

Ed Magairlí

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