UK Home Secretary John Reid to resign at end of June

UK Home Secretary John Reid to resign at end of June

	Published : Sun, 06 May 2007 16:49 By : Agencies Print this Story

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Britain's home secretary said today he will resign from the government within weeks, just as finance minister Gordon Brown is likely to take over from Tony Blair as prime minister.

John Reid, an arch-Blairite who became interior minister last year, also ruled out standing against Brown for the top job -- clearing the way for his fellow Scot to take over as premier.

'I have decided I will not put myself forward as a candidate,' Reid told BBC television.

'I intend to vote for and support Gordon Brown, to put through the changes to the Home Office, then to stand down -- as Tony Blair goes -- from the Cabinet and to give maximum opportunity to Gordon to bring in new people.'

Reid, 59, said he would stand down 'towards the end of June' and insisted he had not jumped before he was pushed.

He said that Brown had 'made clear to me there is a position in his government for me but he understands and he accepts my decision on this.'

The Scot was the last remaining political heavyweight who commentators thought could mount a serious challenge to Brown for the leadership of the ruling Labour Party.

Last week, his predecessor as home secretary, Charles Clarke, ruled out standing against Brown, saying such a move might cause 'bitter division' which would be have ry, very damaging.'

Clarke had labelled Brown a 'control freak' with 'psychological' issues in an interview last year.

The 41-year-old Environment Secretary David Miliband, another key Blair ally, announced he would not stand against Brown last month.

Two left-wing lawmakers, Michael Meacher and John McDonnell, have said they will mount challenges to Brown but they are highly unlikely to secure sufficient support to mount a serious threat.

Reid has held seven jobs in Blair's cabinet in eight years, including defence secretary and health secretary, and is seen by commentators as a figure who Blair sends in to sort out troubled departments.

A BBC television interview once infuriated the former communist, who has a doctorate in economic history, by labelling him 'an all-purpose attack dog for the government.'

Although Blair and Brown were once close political allies, they reportedly fell out after Blair failed to honour a pledge to step down as prime minister and make way for Brown after only a few years in office.

Blair celebrated his 10th anniversary in power last week and is expected to announce he is resigning as premier this week.

Commentators expect Brown will take over as prime minister at some point in July, although no firm timetable has yet been announced.

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