Gordon Brown sets out agenda to succeed Blair

British Finance Minister Gordon Brown has set his strategy to succeed Prime Minister Tony Blair, promising that under his leadership there w...

British Finance Minister Gordon Brown has set his strategy to succeed Prime Minister Tony Blair, promising that under his leadership there would be no going back to the Labour Party’s old, election-losing ways.

‘‘The programme of reform and modernisation will continue when Tony steps down,’’ he told the Sunday Times. Chancellor of the exchequer, Brown, credited with deft management of the British economy but lacking foreign experience has long been seen as Blair’s anointed heir.

Speaking to the newspaper in New York this week for the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund, Brown said: ‘‘There is no going back on reform. In fact we will renew the Labour government by us becoming reformers in all areas’’.

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‘‘My vision is to build a home-owning, asset-owning democracy, a Britain of ambition and aspiration where all and not just the few have the chance to own their own homes, buy shares and build up assets,’’ he said.

The declaration is unlikely to be welcomed by trade unionists preparing to lock horns with Blair as Labour party delegates converge on the southern English resort of Brighton for the party’s annual conference starting on Sunday.

As Blair loyalists begin to open the way for a smooth succession, Brown sought to stop rumours that he and Blair were at loggerheads. He described Blair as ‘‘an incredibly successful Labour leader’’.

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