This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6631317.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'a certainty' as Reid quits | Brown 'a certainty' as Reid quits |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown is unlikely to face a top-level challenge for the Labour leadership, after Home Secretary John Reid ruled himself out of the race. | Gordon Brown is unlikely to face a top-level challenge for the Labour leadership, after Home Secretary John Reid ruled himself out of the race. |
| Mr Reid also said he would quit the Cabinet in June, "as Tony Blair goes", and return to the backbenches. | Mr Reid also said he would quit the Cabinet in June, "as Tony Blair goes", and return to the backbenches. |
| Tony Blair is due to announce his resignation this week and Mr Reid was the last senior figure seen as a possibly challenger to Mr Brown. | |
| Newspaper speculation says Jack Straw may replace Mr Reid as Home Secretary. | |
| That would mark a big shift in fortunes for Mr Straw, home secretary from 1997-2001 and foreign secretary from 2001 until he was surprisingly demoted to Commons leader last year. | |
| Mr Straw has been Mr Brown's campaign manager for the past few weeks during which time a series of Blairite heavyweights have announce they will not be challenging the chancellor in his quest to replace Mr Blair. | |
| Mr Brown could, however, still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers - John McDonnell and Michael Meacher. | Mr Brown could, however, still face a challenge from one of two left-wing backbenchers - John McDonnell and Michael Meacher. |
| It is better to take the chance, having had nine jobs in 10 years, to recharge my batteries John Reid Analysis: Reid resignation Excerpts: Reid letter to PM Transcript: Reid interview | It is better to take the chance, having had nine jobs in 10 years, to recharge my batteries John Reid Analysis: Reid resignation Excerpts: Reid letter to PM Transcript: Reid interview |
| Mr Blair is expected to announce a timetable for his departure on Thursday when he resigns as Labour leader - although he will remain as prime minister until the seven week process for picking a new Labour leader and deputy leader is completed. | |
| Mr Reid told BBC One's The Politics Show it was a "natural break period". | Mr Reid told BBC One's The Politics Show it was a "natural break period". |
| "Now I've done nine jobs in 10 years and I think from my point of view I think it's a good thing to be able to go out to listen, to learn, to discuss, to get back to the grass roots. | "Now I've done nine jobs in 10 years and I think from my point of view I think it's a good thing to be able to go out to listen, to learn, to discuss, to get back to the grass roots. |
| "But also from the point of view of an incoming prime minister. I think the new prime minister should have the maximum flexibility. He needs space." | "But also from the point of view of an incoming prime minister. I think the new prime minister should have the maximum flexibility. He needs space." |
| Northern Ireland Secretary and deputy leadership contender Peter Hain told the BBC's Westminster Hour relations had always been strained between Mr Reid and Mr Brown. | Northern Ireland Secretary and deputy leadership contender Peter Hain told the BBC's Westminster Hour relations had always been strained between Mr Reid and Mr Brown. |
| "There's no getting away from the fact that he and Gordon have never been political bosom buddies, but I don't think that's at the bottom of his decision," he said. | "There's no getting away from the fact that he and Gordon have never been political bosom buddies, but I don't think that's at the bottom of his decision," he said. |
| Brown 'discussion' | Brown 'discussion' |
| Asked whether he was jumping before he was pushed, Mr Reid said: "I have discussed it with Gordon, I've had a very good discussion with Gordon on a number of these issues. | Asked whether he was jumping before he was pushed, Mr Reid said: "I have discussed it with Gordon, I've had a very good discussion with Gordon on a number of these issues. |
| "He has made plain to me there's a place in his government for me but he understands and he accepts my decision on this. | "He has made plain to me there's a place in his government for me but he understands and he accepts my decision on this. |
| This most populist of populist home secretaries will step down leaving government with a highly problematic legacy Juliet Lyon In quotes: Reid's departure Send us your comments Nick Robinson's view | This most populist of populist home secretaries will step down leaving government with a highly problematic legacy Juliet Lyon In quotes: Reid's departure Send us your comments Nick Robinson's view |
| "I have made plain to him that from the backbenches I will be there to support him, it will not be a case of sniping, it will be a case of sustaining the Labour government and the new prime minister." | "I have made plain to him that from the backbenches I will be there to support him, it will not be a case of sniping, it will be a case of sustaining the Labour government and the new prime minister." |
| Mr Reid has held several ministerial positions since 1997, including transport minister, Northern Ireland secretary, Labour chairman, health secretary and defence secretary. | Mr Reid has held several ministerial positions since 1997, including transport minister, Northern Ireland secretary, Labour chairman, health secretary and defence secretary. |
| He replaced Charles Clarke as home secretary last year, promising to revamp the crisis-torn department he said was not "fit for purpose". | He replaced Charles Clarke as home secretary last year, promising to revamp the crisis-torn department he said was not "fit for purpose". |
| He has said he would see through reforms to the department, which is to be split in two, before standing down. | He has said he would see through reforms to the department, which is to be split in two, before standing down. |