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Blair backs Brown at last Cabinet | Blair backs Brown at last Cabinet |
(10 minutes later) | |
Tony Blair promised "unswerving support" for Gordon Brown as prime minister at his farewell Cabinet meeting, Downing Street said. | Tony Blair promised "unswerving support" for Gordon Brown as prime minister at his farewell Cabinet meeting, Downing Street said. |
And Mr Brown told Mr Blair anything he achieved in the future would be because he was "standing on your shoulders". | And Mr Brown told Mr Blair anything he achieved in the future would be because he was "standing on your shoulders". |
Mr Blair received a standing ovation from colleagues at the end of the hour long meeting. | Mr Blair received a standing ovation from colleagues at the end of the hour long meeting. |
Commons leader Jack Straw said he would be remembered as one of the most successful prime ministers ever. | Commons leader Jack Straw said he would be remembered as one of the most successful prime ministers ever. |
He said Mr Blair had faced up to the tough decisions that needed to be taken for the country and had made it a better place. | |
He had tackled racial and gender prejudice and created a society "at ease with itself". | |
Mr Straw also led tributes to Deputy Prime Minster John Prescott, who is standing down as well. | |
He praised Mr Prescott's "courage" and said he had transformed the country's infrastructure, with projects such as the Channel Tunnel rail link. | |
In his tribute to Mr Blair, Mr Brown said people would "look back in 100 years time and see the achievements that Tony Blair has made". | |
The changes he had made would be "historic and enduring", added Mr Brown. |