Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK since 1997. He's a Scottish lad, from strong presbyterian roots, and I'm a bit of a fan.
Particularly of his plan and efforts to reshape the developing world, namely Africa, through the opening of trade barriers, 100% debt forgiveness and a doubling of aid. He's had this plan burning for two years, and the moratorium on debt for nations which suffered in the tsunami was like a prologue to his idea.
Critics of the plan, notably the US and Australia, surprise surprise, say that these plans are useless because of sketchiness regarding where the money goes. Fair enough, it's a problem with charity that I've had for a long time, but Brown is also:
"calling for new international rules to stamp out corruption, and said Britain hoped to secure a system of independent reports on the true state of government finances around the world to ensure aid money was spent wisely."
Which effectively counters the arguments of the warmongers, I think. Or could it be that, apart from wishing to maintain the status quo of rich and poor in the world, Australia and the US aren’t too keen on opening their books to any independent inquiries. Something to hide boys?
Last month there was a bit of tension between him and Tony Blair, well that's been going around for a while, but it came to the fore recently that Tony had promised to stand down in favour of Gordon before this years election, because he had lost the faith of the electorate over Iraq, but now he was going back on his word, and will be running for a third term. I presume this is because he saw how rubbish Michael Howard (Tories Leader) is. Australians should detect a ring a familiarity in this situation.
Brown appears labour in the true sense of the word, a member of the Christian Socialist Movement, he says he's all about equality, and his actions regarding the developing world seem to back that up.
Spot on Tony. There was a gasp of despair when Blair got the job after John Smith carked it. Brown is proper labour and they have enough of a majority to give him a good stint at PM once Blair pisses off.
Actually, the piece was done by Mark, the Pig's foreign correspondant. I'd like to take the credit, but ....
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Blair to resign. Political leadership is addictive. I suspect he'll be there till the voters throw him out. (As will Howard in Australia)
Unfortunately you are right. It is very rare for a PM to leave by their own accord either here (2) or their (thinking....no one springs to mind)
I can only think of one PM who resigned in my memory, ie, Menzies. Holt died in office.
The other head of goverment I can think of to go out in his own time was Wran of NSW.
Definitely the exceptions.
I'd never expect Blair or Howard to resign, egos too thick to get out the door voluntarily anyway. Leadership challenge is more likely, evidently never happened in the UK, though there were rumblings the Brown was leading up to one.
Never happened in the UK? Thatcher mean anything?
Thatcher was pushed, if my memory serves me correctly. She didn't have the numbers, so fell on her sword. Technically you're correct, but she didn't really go at her own choosing.