MANCHESTER, England Jun 24 (AFP): Gordon Brown will become leader of Britain's governing Labour Party Sunday, heralding a new political era that starts when he succeeds Tony Blair as prime minister in three days' time.
The 56-year-old Scot, finance minister throughout Blair's decade as premier, was elected unopposed to the party post, as neither of the two prospective candidates who hoped to run against him could get enough support.
In Britain, the head of the largest party in parliament becomes prime minister. Governing parties can change leader mid-term without a general election having to be called.
As Labour lawmakers, grassroots members and affiliated trade unions gathered for a special conference that will also see the results of the party's deputy leadership contest announced, a newspaper poll indicated a "bounce" for Brown.
The Observer Ipsos/Mori survey put Labour ahead of the main opposition Conservative Party for the first time in eight months with a 39 per cent rating -- up four on last month -- while the Tories were down one to 36 per cent.
Forty per cent thought Brown would be a more capable prime minister than the Conservatives' 40-year-old leader David Cameron, who polled 22 per cent.
But Brown will immediately face a legacy of Blair's premiership, as anti-war protesters demonstrate near the conference venue demanding that British troops be pulled out of Iraq by October.
Brown has pledged to keep to Blair's plan of not withdrawing until conditions are right, but mooted greater economic aid to boost growth and stability.
Brown's "coronation" comes 13 years after he agreed not to run against Blair for the Labour leadership, allegedly in exchange for unprecedented control over domestic policy and Blair handing over power after two terms as prime minister.
Brown to be confirmed as head of Britain's Labour
FE Team | Published: June 25, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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