British finance minister Gordon Brown on Friday formally announced his candidacy to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister, a day after Blair gave notice of his resignation. “Today I announce that I am a candidate to be leader of the Labour Party and to lead a new government,” said Brown, who is widely expected to take over from Blair at the end of June.Brown, who is widely seen as dour in contrast to the charismatic, media-friendly Blair, vowed that he would demonstrate his ability to take on the top job. “Tony Blair has lead our country for 10 years with distinction, with courage, with passion and with insight,” said Brown, flanked by the slogan “Gordon Brown for Britain” at a presentation in central London. “In the weeks and months ahead, my task is to show that I have the new ideas, the vision and the experience to earn the trust of the British people,” he said. “Today there are new priorities and I offer a new leadership for this new time,” he added.
Brown is the clear frontrunner to succeed Blair, after the only credible possible rivals pulled out of the race in recent weeks, leaving only two possible token leftwing candidates.