Brown becomes Britain's Prime Minister

Gordon Brown has arrived at No 10 Downing Street after being asked to lead a new government as Britain's Prime Minister following his meeting with the Queen in Buckingham Palace.

Standing outside No 10 with his wife Sarah, Mr Brown said that he accepted the Queen's invitation to form a new government and pledged to "try my utmost" in his new role.

He told reporters that he felt greatly privileged to be granted "this great opportunity" and said that he would be "strong in purpose, steadfast in will, resolute in action, in the service of what matters to the British people, meeting the concerns and aspirations of our whole country".

Mr Brown said that he had "heard the need for change" and said that his priority areas were education, health, affordable housing and restoring trust in government.

He said that work would now begin on building a "new government with new priorities" and said: "Britain can be the great global success story of this century... there is no weakness in Britain today that cannot be overcome by the strength of the British people.

"Now let the work of change begin."

Mr Brown is expected to begin a Cabinet reshuffle this afternoon, by naming his replacement as Chancellor and also a new Home Secretary. The current Home Secretary John Reid has already announced his intention to stand down from the post.

The full Cabinet reshuffle is expected to be completed on Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon, Patricia Hewitt announced her intention to step down as Health Secretary.

Conservative leader David Cameron has congratulated Mr Brown on becoming Prime Minister but called on him to hold an immediate general election, because he was not elected prime minister.

Mr Brown replaces Tony Blair as Prime Minister. It was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that Mr Blair will become a peace envoy for the Middle East on behalf of the Quartet powers - the US, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia.

(KMcA)