London – Gordon Brown has announced he is resigning as UK prime minister.
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Mr Brown has officially tendered his resignation to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and recommended Conservative leader David Cameron succeed him.
Speaking alongside his wife Sarah outside No 10 Downing Street, he said the job had been “a privilege” and wished his successor well.
Mr Brown is also stepping down as Labour leader and as an MP with immediate effect.
His decision comes as the Tories and Liberal Democrats are poised to agree a deal to form a government.
Mr Brown said he had taken the decision to resign after concluding he would not be able to form a government after days of talks between the parties.
‘Privilege to serve’
In an emotional farewell speech outside No 10, Mr Brown said he had “loved the job” and it had been “a privilege to serve”.
“I loved the job for its potential to make this country I love fairer, more tolerant, more green, more democratic, more prosperous and more just – truly a greater Britain.
“In the face of many years, challenges up to and including the global financial meltdown, I have always tried to serve, to do my best in the interests of Britain, its values and its people.”
David Cameron is expected to go to Buckingham Palace later on Tuesday to accept the Queen’s invitation to form a government.
Anticipating that, Mr Brown said: “I wish the next prime minister well as he makes the important choices for the future.”
His two young sons joined him and wife Sarah for his brief statement which ended with the words: “Thank you and goodbye.”
Failed talks
Mr Brown also said he would stand down as Labour leader with immediate effect.
Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as prime minister in June 2007 after spending ten years as chancellor of the exchequer.
His resignation follows Thursday’s general election in which no party won an overall majority but the Conservatives won the most seats and votes.
Both Labour and the Tories have since been trying to persuade the Lib Dems to join them in a coalition government to run the country.
Mr Brown had previously said he would resign as Labour leader, but stay on as prime minister until September, if Labour could agree a deal with the Lib Dems.
But after this possibility ended, the BBC’s Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Brown decided he could not form a government and should stand down.
Nick Robinson said Mr Brown had made his announcement before the Conservatives and Lib Dems had formally announced they would be combining to form a government.
Before making his announcement, Mr Brown consulted with his wife Sarah and close colleagues including Lord Mandelson, Douglas Alexander, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband.
Mr Brown also spoke to former prime minister Tony Blair by phone.
Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee has indicated it wants Mr Brown’s successor as leader to be chosen as soon as possible, possibly by the end of July.
In 2007 Cameron revealed as having Jewish blood, His great-grandfather, Emile Levita (1827-1909), was a German-born Jewish merchant who moved to Britain. His daughter married Ewen Cameron, David’s grandfather.
In April 2010 Cameron said he will Empower Jews should he be elected.
According to this article, his grandfather was maybe jewish but not him.
Great News
Very soon America will be govern by Conservatives.iyh
his mom his jewish – read carfully.
Will he take michael savage (R’mechel wiener) of the list of no entry to UK
David Milibrand, who may suceed Brown as Labour party head, actually *is* Jewish. But he is not religious and I’m pretty sure his wife is not Jewish.
hooray,now the tories will have to clean up all the mess labour left.but at least they will try to bring back some normalcy to this forsaken country
this is a blessing for israel and jews.
I think his left arm and one kidney is Jewish. His right leg may be budhist. His right arm is Canadian, His left ear is Irish and with his coffee he likes Danish!
Leave the poor guy alone with genealogy tests. He doesn’t care if he is Jewish or not, nor does the world. You should just discuss the political impact his government will have on the world.
To Charlie Hall : I feel your pain .But Gordon Brown was a klutz .
No. 19. A nincompoop yes, but a klutz , no .
no gordon brown cannot be called a klutz a klutz is someone who does things by mistake this guy PURPOSELY sold all of englands gold sold many many industries and very kindly sent all Englands money up north to his home town Scotland.We cannot even begin to fathom the extent of the damage he has caused the country..