New Conservative Prime Minister in UK — Brown Resigns, David Cameron Now PM (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on May 12, 2010
A new face is in power in the United Kingdom following last week’s election. Former PM Gordon Brown of the Labour Party has been booted and conservative David Cameron, the youngest prime minister in 200 years, steps up to the plate to usher in what many hope will be a new era of fiscal responsibility in the troubled nation.
Labour rule over: New British PM Cameron to form coalition with Lib Dems
From UK Times, Cameron pledges ‘better times ahead’ after becoming Prime Minister:
David Cameron promised to build a new era of responsibility tonight as he arrived in Downing Street to head what he said would be a “proper and full” coalition between the Tories and Liberal Democrats.
Mr Cameron, who becomes Britain’s youngest Prime Minister in almost 200 years, was finally given his chance to form a government after five days of extraordinary political wrangling ended in defeat for Gordon Brown – who was forced to admit that he would not be able to secure an improbable fourth term for Labour.
Mr Brown had been at the heart of government for 13 years, ten of them as Chancellor and the past three as Prime Minister.
He bid an emotional farewell to Downing Street – and to a job that had taught him a lot about human nature and his own “frailties” – before publicly introducing his two young sons, Jon, six, and Fraser, three, for the first time.
After 20 minutes at Buckingham Palace, where he formally updated the Queen on the momentous events of the past week and commended Mr Cameron as his successor, Mr Brown paid a farewell visit to Labour Party headquarters.
In a poignant speech to party workers, Mr Brown said he took full personal responsibility for Labour’s failure to win in Thursday’s election, but promised the party would “fight on” for fairness in Britain under its caretaker leader, Harriet Harman.
He said: “We know more certainly now than ever before that there is a strong progressive majority in Britain. I wish more than I can possibly say that I could have mobilised that majority to carry the election, but I could not.
“And I have to accept, and indeed assert, the fault is mine and I will carry that alone. So to give the party I love the best possible chance to prepare for its future, I have resigned the leadership of the Labour Party with immediate effect and Harriet will take over.”
Only minutes later, Mr Cameron, who visited Buckingham Palace with his pregnant wife, Samantha, walked into Downing Street, where his staff had already taken up residence in a typically British-style handover of power.
Russia Today: Gordon Brown resigns as UK Prime Minister, David Cameron set for office
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I sure hope that Cameron can do the job. The Brits have been in dire straights for longer than we have. We need a strong ally because Obama won’t be in office forever and the repairs between the UK and us need to be enacted. Obama has done great damage to our relationship.