Gordon Brown was widely hailed as Britain's prime minister in waiting by the
British press after delivering his 10th annual budget, with the incumbent Tony
Blair looking increasingly stale.
Gordon Brown was
widely hailed as Britain's prime minister in waiting by the British press
after delivering his 10th annual budget, with the incumbent Tony Blair
looking increasingly stale. [AFP] |
Brown, the country's longest-serving chancellor of the exchequer, appeared
confident and powerful as he presented his tax and spending plans -- a highlight
in the British financial calendar -- on Wednesday in what newspapers described
as a preview of the 55-year-old's future premiership.
Blair, who was re-elected prime minister of the governing Labour Party for a
record third term last May, has promised to retire before the next general
election, which is expected in three or four years' time.
But the legacy of Iraq and a sense of sleaze, generated by allegations that
Labour bestowed honours on wealthy supporters in return for large loans, have
triggered speculation that he might bow out early.
Brown is seen as Blair's most likely successor and Wednesday's budget
performance in the House of Commons -- the powerful lower chamber of parliament
-- only served to strengthen this view, according to the national press.
"Brown's No 10 budget," The Independent splashed in a headline across its
front page, alluding to Number 10 Downing Street -- the official residence of
the British prime minister. The finance minister lives at Number 11.
"Chancellor's tenth budget paves way for handover of power," the left-wing
newspaper added.
The right-leaning Daily Mail pictured Brown and his pregnant wife Sarah on
its front page next to the words: "An awesomely confident Mr Brown yesterday
revealed his prime ministerial vision for Britain, posing the question ... 'When
do we move next door, darling?'"
The top-selling Sun tabloid, in a colourful take on the budget, highlighted
Brown's pledge to lower the price of condoms and freeze tax on champagne, while
also lining him up as Britain's future leader.
"This was not just a pitch for Tony Blair's job," The Sun said of the
chancellor's budget speech.
"Mr Brown was out to show that there is no one else in the Labour Party to
touch him."
A particular focus was Brown's first clash with David Cameron, the new leader
of the main opposition Conservative Party and the man whom he will most likely
run against in the next general election.