Birmingham MPs pay tribute to Gordon Brown

May 11 2010 By Jonathan Walker

LABOUR MPs have paid tribute to Gordon Brown after he gave up the battle to remain in Downing Street and announced he was quitting as party leader.

Birmingham MPs said they believed the sudden announcement could keep Labour in power – with the support of the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Brown revealed his decision outside Downing Street yesterday, in a last ditch attempt to keep the Tories out of office.

But Tories countered by announcing they were willing to offer the Liberal Democrats their long-sought goal of reform of the voting system.

Khalid Mahmood (Lab Perry Barr) said: “Gordon has done the right thing. We lost the election and he has taken responsibility for that.”

And Richard Burden (Lab Northfield) said: “I hope this clears the ground for the discussions between Labour and the Liberal Democrats that I think make a great deal of sense.”

Meanwhile, former Ladywood MP Clare Short: “I think he’s done exactly the right thing for the country. The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have very different policies and values, and though they have been trying, they might not reach an agreement.

“What we need now is for the progressives to get to together to thrash out a programme to protect the poor, but it is going to be fasinating to see what will happen now.”

When asked about who will take over as Labour Party leader, she said: “It’s too early to say and the list is too long. Obviously there are people like David Miliband, Ed Balls and Harriet Harman who will want it, but I’m a fan of Alan Johnson.

“We don’t want a macho politician this time, we need someone who is nice and consistent and I think he would be that.”