Gordon Brown takes over as British prime minister

28 June 2007

Mumbai: Labour party leader James Gordon Brown , 56, has taken over as prime minister of Britain succeeding Tony Blair. Queen Elizabeth swore in Brown at the Buckingham Palace shortly after Blair stepped down after holding the top post for 10 years.

Brown, Chancellor of Exchequer, took over as leader of the Labour party on Sunday from Blair who stepped down in the backdrop of decline in his popularity over joining the US-led war in Iraq.

This is the first time that a changeover has occurred without a general election.Son of a preacher in Scotland , Brown rose from an academic to become the prime minister, capping his 24-year political career.

A respected politician, Brown has special interest in strengthening and deepening relations with a "pulsating, dynamic India" and has recently talked of according high priority to ties with New Delhi

A self-proclaimed admirer of India, Brown''s assumption of power is expected to further boost relations between New Delhi and London.

Brown may sanction a future inquiry on Iraq, similar to that of the US Study Group, telling a recent rally that Britain needs to acknowledge mistakes made over the war with Iraq.