Tony Blair Ends 10-Year Era

"The party will now select a new leader."
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted May 10, 2007 6:56 AM CDT
Tony Blair Ends 10-Year Era
Tony Blair waves as he arrives at Trimdon Labour club where he is to announce his resignation as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party in Trimdon, north east England Thursday May 10, 2007. Blair returned to his Parliamentary district Thursday to call an end to a decade in power by announcing...   (Associated Press)

It's official: Tony Blair will step down on June 27, as soon as a new Labour leader is chosen. Blair publicly announced his decision in his home constituency of Sedgefield, having told his cabinet earlier in the day. Blair's words prompted "much thumping of tables" by the cabinet, says his spokesman.

Chancellor Gordon Brown, who is almost certain to succeed Blair, praised his 10 years of leadership.  And Blair trumpeted his own successes: " There is only one government since 1945 that can say all of the following: more jobs, fewer unemployed, better health and education results, lower crime and economic growth in every quarter. Only one government, this one." (More Gordon Brown stories.)

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