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| Reluctant Hero |
Brown unlikely to be challenged for PMJust when it looked as if we were going to get an interesting political heavyweight battle for the leadership of the Labour party and the office of Prime Minister, it looks as if everyone is chickening out. For some it may be their only opportunity to contend to be PM, therefore if they had any ambition, they should give it serious consideration.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6110816.stm Brown 'unlikely to face PM fight' Chancellor Gordon Brown is unlikely to face a serious challenge in his expected bid to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister, the BBC has learned. A leadership contest had seemed certain after Mr Blair announced in September that he would leave Downing Street within a year. But sources now say it is becoming more likely that no heavyweight challenger to Mr Brown will emerge. Left-wing MP John McDonnell has said he plans to stand in any contest. 'Almost certainly Gordon' BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some senior Labour figures had come to believe Mr Brown was "simply unstoppable". He added: "We've gone from 'anyone but Gordon' to the Labour Party thinking 'it's almost certainly Gordon'." Mr McDonnell said he wanted to avoid a "coronation" of Mr Blair's successor and to give Labour a chance to decide its next leader. There has been speculation that former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, Home Secretary John Reid and Education Secretary Alan Johnson - all Blairites - would stand, although none has made an announcement. Mr Milburn is considered an "ultra-Blairite" and gave a series of speeches in September which were taken to indicate his willingness to lead the party. Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton has said there should be a contest, but refused to comment on whether he would stand. Candidates for the deputy leadership have been more forthcoming, with Hilary Benn, John Cruddas, Peter Hain and Harriet Harman all declaring their ambitions to take over when John Prescott leaves. |
| azzuri |
I still think it will be 'anyone but Brown'. Tony will make sure of that when he exits. |
| Corby Boy |
The question's immaterial. As long as the tories get back in England and hasten the move towards independence in Scotland. |