Brown to win UK Labour leadership unopposed |
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Thu, 17 May 2007 07:50
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LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown will become the governing Labour Party's next leader, and therefore Britain's next prime minister, with the party set to confirm Thursday that he is the only candidate eligible to succeed Tony Blair.Brown's only challenger, John McDonnell, conceded on Wednesday that it was 'mathematically impossible' for him to get his name on the ballot paper.As a result, Brown will be officially named Labour's leader on June 24, and will take over from Blair as prime minister on June 27.The latest update on Labour's website showed that Brown had the backing of 307 Labour MPs, two short of the required 309 to ensure he is the only candidate.But one MP said subsequently that he would back Brown and another said she would not nominate either candidate, meaning McDonnell cannot secure the 45 nominations required to challenge.The leadership contest was sparked by Blair's announcement last week that he is to step down after 13 years as Labour leader and 10 years as British prime minister.A deputy leadership contest is being held in parallel, after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's decision to step down at the same time.That looks like a tighter contest, with five of the six candidates having already secured the 45 nominations necessary to have their names on the ballot.Results for both contests are due to be announced at a conference on June 24. Brown would become prime minister as leader of the largest party in parliament, without a general election having to be called.tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.comafp/cwCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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Blair announcement triggers 7 week electoral process within Labour Party 