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The 2007 Labour Party leadership election was triggered on 10 May 2007 by incumbent leader Tony Blair's announcement that he would resign as leader on 27 June. At the same time that Blair resigned, John Prescott resigned as Deputy Leader, triggering a concurrent election for the deputy leadership.[1][2]
Informal campaigning had been ongoing ever since Blair announced in 2004 that he would not be fighting a fourth general election as leader. Pressure for a timetable eventually led him to announce on 7 September 2006 that he would step down within a year.[3] Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 13 May 2007 to decide a timetable.[4][5] Nominations opened on 14 May and closed at 12:30 UTC+1 on 17 May 2007.
Blair said he expected Gordon Brown to succeed him, and that Brown "would make an excellent Prime Minister". When nominations for the leadership elections opened, Blair was one of those nominating Brown.[6] From the start, most observers considered Brown the overwhelming favourite to succeed Blair; John McDonnell, his only challenger, failed to secure enough nominations in order to get onto the ballot, and conceded defeat.[7] Brown received 313 (88.2%) nominations to McDonnell's 29 (8.2%), making it mathematically impossible for anyone other than Brown to be nominated.
The election process concluded with Brown being declared leader at a special conference on 24 June 2007. On 27 June, Blair resigned as Prime Minister and was succeeded by Brown.[8]
If Brown had been opposed, Labour Party members would for the first time have directly elected a new prime minister.
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Leader of the Opposition
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Policies
Appointments
First ministry and term (May 1997 - June 2001)
Second ministry and term (June 2001 - May 2005)
Third ministry and term (May 2005 - June 2007)
Post–Prime Minister
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