Miliband to head Britain’s Labour?
May 13, 2010 01:12 am
Unofficial campaigning began within hours of Mr Brown’s announcement late Tuesday that he was stepping down both as prime minister and as Labour leader after the party came second to the Conservatives in last week’s election.
Mr Miliband’s main competitor in the race would likely be ex-schools secretary Ed Balls but any number of candidates could join the race - including Mr Miliband’s younger brother, Ed - as different party factions vie for power.
Mr Brown’s resignation marked the end of 13 years of Labour government and could spell years of opposition for the party, with the next election due in 2015.
Veteran Labour minister Alan Johnson began the race Wednesday by throwing his weight behind Mr Miliband, already the bookmakers’ favourite to take over, saying he was a ‘remarkable politician’.
Mr Miliband, 44, worked closely with former prime minister Tony Blair, both as head of policy before Labour was elected to government and for four years after they took office. – (AFP)