Brown quits as PM to keep Labour in power

Gordon Brown sacrificed his premiership yesterday in a bid to keep David Cameron out of No 10

Gordon Brown - World News - Marie Claire
Gordon Brown - World News - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Gordon Brown sacrificed his premiership yesterday in a bid to keep David Cameron out of No 10

Gordon Brown sensationally announced his resignation as Prime Minister yesterday in a plot to keep Labour in office.

In a dramatic statement to the press, the PM said he was quitting in order to pave the way for a Labour and Lib Dem pact that would prevent the Conservatives from getting into power.

During the speech, Brown insisted he would remain in Downing Street to forge a pact between the parties that finished second and third in last week's general election.

Following this, he would then hand over to the new Labour Prime Minister in the autumn.

Wife Sarah, and many of Brown colleagues, reportedly had tears in their eyes as the PM made his historic announcement.

A senior No 10 insider said: ‘Gordon took eight to 10 minutes on his own to think about the situation and decided it was time.

‘The decision in principle was made last Friday after the election results came in and he took that as a judgment on himself.'

The news broke as Tory leader David Cameron seemed on the brink of entering Downing Street after three days of power sharing talks with Lib Dem's Nick Clegg.

In response to Brown's jaw-dropping decision, the Tories upped their game by offering the Lib Dems a referendum on the Alternative Vote electoral system and Cabinet seats.

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said it was the ‘final offer'.

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