Blair Points To Successor

After 10 years at No. 10, PM says he'll pass torch to Brown within weeks
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted May 2, 2007 9:08 AM CDT
Blair Points To Successor
'   (Associated Press)

As he marked a decade in power, British prime minister Tony Blair said yesterday he'll step down within weeks. Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown is expected to succeed Blair, who stopped short of officially anointing Brown but told a Labour rally, "In all probability, a Scot will become prime minister of the United Kingdom."

The conservative Daily Telegraph says Blair is expected to resign by June 30 but timed the announcement to offset huge losses projected for his party in tomorrow's elections. Blair's popularity has plummeted because he supports  Bush and the war in Iraq; Brown, who can take over without new elections, has distanced himself from those stances. (More Tony Blair stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X