British Chancellor of Exchequer Gordon Brown on Friday formally announced he would "stand for" labor leader and British Prime Minister.

 

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"Today I announce that I am a candidate to be leader of the Labor Party and to lead a new government," Brown said at a speech in central London.

 

"Tony Blair has lead our country for 10 years with distinction, with courage, with passion and with insight," said Brown.

 

"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," said he, adding "Today there are new priorities and I offer a new leadership for this new time."

 

Brown said it would be the "greatest honor" to be British prime minister, and he also welcomed any candidates to challenge him.

 

"As I enter this contest for nominations, let me say I welcome any other candidate who wishes to stand, will debate anyone who does stand and will fight hard for every single nomination and every person's support." said he.

 

Brown made his announcement just one day after Blair declared he would step down as Labor Party leader on June 27.

 

And on Friday morning, Blair officially endorsed Chancellor Gordon Brown as next Labor leader.

 

"I'm absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labor Party and prime minister and to endorse him fully," he told reporters at a press conference in Downing Street 10 following talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

 

"I think he has got what it takes to lead the Labor Party and indeed the country with distinction. He's an extraordinary and rare talent and it is tremendous if it is put at the service of the nation as it now can be." said he.

 

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott also announced that he would resign as the Labor Party's deputy leader and quit as deputy prime minister in the summer.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2007)