Gordon Brown will begin his Labour leadership campaign today with victory looking a foregone conclusion.
The British chancellor will set out his "vision and values" in a speech to party activists in central London as he formally announces his candidacy to succeed Tony Blair.
Britian's Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. Image: Luke MacGregor/Reuters/PA Wire.
Commons leader Jack Straw, Mr Brown's campaign manager, insisted last night that he would welcome any challengers for the top job. But that prospect appeared to recede when the two hopefuls from the party's left failed to agree which of them should run against the Chancellor.
Former environment minister Michael Meacher and John McDonnell had struck a deal that whoever received the least backing would stand aside, giving the other a much better chance of achieving the 44 MPs' nominations required to reach the final ballot.
But after a private meeting yesterday afternoon they delayed the decision until Monday, saying their levels of support were "too close to call".
Mr Straw said last night that the Chancellor would use the six-week campaign to set out his strategy and be "cross-examined" by party members. Mr Brown wanted to make Britain "not only a better place, but a much fairer place as well", he added.
PA