Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday formally endorsed his Finance Minister, Gordon Brown, to become his successor, saying he would make a ”great prime minister”.
”I’m absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labour Party and prime minister and to endorse him fully,” he told reporters.
”I think he’s got what it takes to lead the Labour Party, and indeed the country, with distinction. He’s an extraordinary and rare talent and it’s tremendous if it is put at the service of the nation, as it now can be.
”He’s shown, perhaps as the most successful chancellor in our country’s history, that he’s got the strength, the experience and the judgement to make a great prime minister.”
Blair, who announced on Thursday that he will stand down on June 27, has until now declined formally to back Brown, with whom his relations have long been strained.
On Friday he said of Brown: ”I know he’s absolutely determined to drive the modernisation of the country forward in order to meet the challenges of the coming decade.”
”I also believe, as someone who’s known him for over 20 years as a friend and a colleague, that he can make a real difference to this country, for the better and for the good.”
”And so I wish him well. I’m delighted to support him and endorse him fully.”
Brown is almost certain to succeed Blair, as he is expected to face just a token challenge from the left wing of the centre-left Labour Party. — Sapa-AFP