Blair Hands Top U.K. Job To Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown ended a decade-long wait to become prime minister Wednesday, stepping out of Tony Blair's shadow determined to heal divisions over the unpopular Iraq war as he brings a sober new tone to the government.

Blair departed to rousing applause and even some tears from lawmakers after presiding over a decade of rapid social change and economic prosperity but also rancor over Iraq. He now takes on the daunting role as envoy for the U.S., U.N., European Union and Russia in their Mideast peace efforts.

Brown, who first vied with Blair to lead the Labour Party in 1994 and served as Treasury chief the past 10 years, smiled broadly as he left a meeting at Buckingham Palace during which Queen Elizabeth II asked him to form a new government, the ceremonial transfer of power.

Brown has been running Britain's booming economy for the past decade as Tony Blair's most senior cabinet minister, reports CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer. Brown and Blair started out as friends, but over the years have become bitter rivals, competing for power. Now, at last, Blair, the charismatic master of spin, has given way to Brown, the sober technocrat.

Having departed the Treasury in a modest sedan with his wife, Sarah, Brown swept back to the prime minister's official residence at No. 10 Downing Street in a sleek prime ministerial limousine.

"I remember words that have stayed with me since my childhood and which matter a great deal today — my school motto — 'I will try my utmost'," he told reporters massed outside his new office. "This is my promise to all of the people of Britain and now let the work of change begin."

Known for an often stern demeanor that paled against the bright smile of his personable predecessor, the 56-year-old Brown has promised to sweep aside the Blair era and restore trust in a government weakened by deep public anger over Iraq.

"I have listened and I have learned from the British people — and as prime minister I will continue to listen and learn from the British people," Brown said in an interview published Wednesday by the Daily Mirror.

"This need for change cannot be met by the old politics so I will reach out," he added.

Nervous and smiling awkwardly, Brown tightly grasped his wife's hand to guide her through the black front door of the prime minister's residence, where he will begin working on his legislative agenda and prepare for a parliamentary election that must be held by 2010.

President Bush, who counted Blair as his most steadfast ally, was the first world leader to offer his congratulations in a phone call soon after Brown's appointment, Downing Street said.

Their 10-minute talk was "cordial and constructive," said Brown's official spokesman, Michael Ellam. He declined to specify if the leaders discussed Iraq.

Brown also held brief telephone chats with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Premier Romano Prodi. And he spoke with David Cameron, leader of the resurgent opposition Conservative Party, Ellam said.

Blair, who led Labour as it won three successive election victories for the first time in its history, was visibly emotional during a final weekly question session with legislators.

He said he was sorry for the perils faced by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but gave no apology for siding with the United States in taking military action, saying he believes it is a necessary fight against forces that seek to destroy the Western way of life.

"I wish everyone — friend or foe — well. And that is that. The end," he said before leaving the House of Commons chamber.

Legislators rose to their feet and gave Blair rapturous applause as he left to ceremonially offer his resignation to the queen. Some lawmakers, including Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, dabbed at tears.

"Tony's had a great run and history will judge him kindly," Bush told Britain's The Sun tabloid in remarks published Wednesday. "I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."

Blair, 54, took the one-mile ride with his wife, Cherie, from Downing Street to the palace in a chauffeur-driven, armor-plated silver limousine. He left with a private gift from the monarch.

He later took a train to northern England, where he told officials in the district he represents in Parliament that he will resign the seat. While he was en route, the Quartet of Mideast peace mediators named him as its new envoy in the region.

In a statement later, Brown praised Blair's selection, saying he had long demonstrated his commitment to peace for the Middle East. "The Middle East peace process is one of our top priorities and we will obviously continue to support the Quartet and their new envoy in their work," Brown said.

Brown, beginning the job he has long craved, must woo Britons by shaking off criticism for backing Britain's decision to participate in the Iraq war.

A small group of protesters — including families of soldiers killed in Iraq — was allowed through police lines onto Downing Street to greet Brown with a chorus of jeers.

"We asked him politely to come and speak to us. He didn't," said Rose Gentle, whose son Pvt. Gordon Gentle died in 2004. "If he has ignored us once then I think he will continue to ignore us."

Other onlookers, such as Judith Brown, a 25-year-old student from Belfast, Northern Ireland, wanted to wish Blair a fond farewell. "I think it's romantic," she said. "It's the end of an era. I'm hoping he might shed a tear or two."

Brown will seek to head off a challenge from a revived Conservative Party. Polls already point to a "Brown bounce," with one survey putting Labour ahead of its rival for the first time since October.

The new prime minister planned to announce appointments to senior Cabinet posts, including the roles of foreign secretary and Treasury chief, on Thursday, Ellam said. The spokesman declined to discuss media reports that Beckett had been told she will be replaced as foreign secretary.

Few expected Brown to be greeted with public enthusiasm, and his ascension was widely seen as a political gift for Cameron, the more affable Conservative leader.

But Blair's last full day in office Tuesday brought an unexpected present — the defection of a Conservative legislator to Labour. The move put Brown in bullish mood and he will now weigh calling a national election as early as next summer.

Most closely watched will be Brown's policy on Iraq. British troop numbers there have rapidly fallen this year, and Blair left his successor an option to call back more of the remaining 5,500 soldiers by 2008. Brown confirmed Wednesday that 500 more will return soon.

The succession of Brown ends a partnership that began when he and Blair were elected to Parliament in 1983 — sharing an office and a vision to transform their leftist party's fortunes by moving it toward the political center.

It has been widely reported — but never confirmed — that the two agreed over dinner in 1994 that Brown would not run against Blair for Labour leader. In return, Blair reportedly promised that if he became prime minister he would give Brown broad powers as Treasury chief and step down after a reasonable time to give Brown a shot at the post.

Brown has finally won his chance. "This will be a new government with new priorities," he told reporters. "I have been privileged to have been granted the great opportunity to serve my country."