Gordon Brown takes office as Prime Minister
The Queen has asked Gordon Brown to form a government. The new Prime Minister spent nearly an hour with Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.
Arriving at Downing St just before 3pm he told journalists: “this will be a new Government with new priorities.”
Mr Brown appeared with his wife Sarah outside No 10 Downing St, but unlike his predecessor his children were not present and there were no cheering crowds of party faithful.
“I have just accepted the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen to form a government,” he said.
“This will be a new government with new priorities and I have been privileged to have been granted a great opportunity to serve my country.
“At all times I will be strong in purpose, steadfast in will, resolute in action in the service of what matters to the British people, meeting the concerns and aspirations of our whole country.”
Mr Brown pledged to reach across party divides to work in the national interest.
“If we can fulfil the potential and realise the talents of all our people then I am absolutely sure that Britain can be the great global success story of this century,” he said.
The new Prime Minister was hesitant and slightly nervous when speaking to the press but spoke with authority.
Tony Blair visited Buckingham Palace earlier this afternoon to tender his resignation at Prime Minister.
He then went to Kings Cross train station and is currently en route to his constituency, where he is expected to announce his resignation as an MP.
Mr Brown is the Queen’s eleventh Prime Minister. His premiership is the first in the UK to start without a general election since 1990.
The new Prime Minister is now forming his Cabinet and the key roles of Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary are expected to be announced today.
Mr Brown will also make phone calls to world leaders to introduce himself as Prime Minister.
Other Cabinet and government jobs are expected to be announced tomorrow and Friday.
