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Your World Today

Gordon Brown Takes Over From Tony Blair as Prime Minister

Aired June 27, 2007 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It is still the arena that sets the heart beating a little faster, and if it is on occasions the place of low skullduggery, it is more often the pursuit for more noble causes. And I wish everyone, friend or foe, well.

And that is that, the end.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, the end for Tony Blair means the beginning for Gordon Brown. A long farewell is over, and Britain's new leader says, let the work of change begin.

Hello to our viewers around the world. And welcome to this special edition of YOUR WORLD TODAY.

I'm Becky Anderson in London.

We're covering the historic day in Britain as it welcomes a new prime minister for the first time in 10 years.

Well, Gordon Brown received a long-awaited invitation from Queen Elizabeth to form a new government. He's leaving behind his finance minister duties to take on the top job. Mr. Brown is promising new priorities and a new mission that he says can make Britain the great global success story of the century.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I am convinced that there is no weakness in Britain today that cannot be overcome by the strengths of the British people.

On this day, I remember words that have stayed with me since my childhood and which matter a great deal to me today. My school motto, "I will try my utmost."

This is my promise to all of the people of Britain. And now let the work of change begin.

Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Brown had an audience with the queen shortly after Tony Blair handed her his resignation. Blair also addressed the House of Commons for the final time, bringing legislators to their feet with applause and bringing some of them to tears.

Tony Blair is wasting no time tackling new challenges. He's set to become a special envoy for the Middle East quartet.

Well, let's get some perspective now on the changing of the guard at 10 Downing Street.

We're joined by our chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour.

And I guess first, we have got to ask, just how will Tony Blair be remembered, Christiane?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think historically, he made his party electable. This is a huge, big deal in politics.

Labour had been out for 18 years. He took a party, old Labour, made it new Labour, made it moderate, made it electable, and kept it in power for a historic period of time.

He, himself, won three successive elections. No Labour prime minister has ever done that. And he made, as I say, this party a real party of government, having been opposition out of date, out of time for so long. And he was thanked for that in the House of Commons today.

ANDERSON: He is on his way to his constituency in the north of England, Sedgefield, where he will address his Labour Party faithful and will resign as a member of parliament. It's -- expected to take on this new role.

Given that, Gordon Brown is installed now at 10 Downing Street. What can we expect as far as change is concerned?

AMANPOUR: Well, you know, we talked about, what could we remember from Tony Blair? The big thing also to remember is Iraq. Iraq, which will have really tarnished his legacy for the foreseeable future.

And so that is one of the big things that Gordon brown has to deal with. He's already said there will be no timetable for withdrawal, that we believe in the mission of making it a better place. But he knows that the people of Britain, 61 percent, is a big number, who want their troops out of Iraq. And it's a very, very deep challenge for him to figure out what to do.

ANDERSON: And he has said there are lessons to be learned. There are mistakes that were made. Whether he was having a pomp (ph), Tony Blair or not, these lessons have got to be learned quickly, surely, haven't they? AMANPOUR: Yes, they do. But remember, Gordon Brown was around the same cabinet table. He is a partner in all that has gone on in the last 10 years.

He's talked about change, but it is with continuity. He was not outside when the decision was made to go to war. He wasn't outside when some of the domestic decisions about the war on terror, you know, the civil liberties and all the rest has come with the war on terror. So he also has been part of this.

So he does have to change, because the people here want change. But it's one that has to be in keeping with their vision.

He does not believe that the war in Iraq was a mistake. The most he'll say is mistakes were made in the post-invasion phase. But the truth of the matter is that the people of Britain resent the fact the prime minister stood so closely with the president of the United States and didn't, you know, get something back for that support, and also was not able to temper the actions of the U.S. president. And they want to see something different, at least in style, from their new prime minister.

ANDERSON: And let's talk about that. How will Gordon Brown navigate his relationship with Bush over the next 14 to 15 months, and then with the new administration going forward?

AMANPOUR: Well, you know, Gordon Brown is also an Atlanticist. He has a lot of knowledge about the United States. He summers in Cape Cod. He knows a lot about America. He's already been there -- we understand he's already had his first phone call of congratulations from President Bush this afternoon.

So he will keep the relationship solid. That is a bedrock foundation of British foreign policy.

British policy is to stand close by the United States. They are -- it is the most important relationship, as Blair has said and prime ministers before him have said, and presumably prime ministers who come after him.

But I think even American officials, most certainly British people and British officials, want to see this as a real partnership. It's not an equal partnership, because the United States is the superpower, but nor does it have to be a totally subservient partnership on the part of Britain.

Britain has a lot to say and a lot to play. And a big constructive role. It can be America's partner to the rest of the world. And the sense is that Tony Blair didn't capitalize on his close friendship and to be able to temper that relationship and play a proper partnership role, certainly over the war in Iraq.

ANDERSON: Christiane Amanpour, our chief international correspondent.

More from Christiane as we move through this hour. But let's move on.

Gordon Brown has waited more than a decade for this day. He says he's ready to throw out old politics and give the government a fresh start. But he's also expected to bring a shift in style, as it were.

Well, let's bring in Robin Oakley, outside 10 Downing Street, to tell us more about the man who's taking over the office -- Robin.

ROBIN ANDERSON, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hello, Becky.

Well, it was such a contrast really, between the arrival of Tony Blair here in Downing Street 10 years ago after winning an election victory, Union Jacks waving, euphoria all around the place. Tony Blair seen as a kind of combination pop star and a holy roller. A new style of politics.

Gordon Brown coming in after 10 years, closely involved with Tony Blair as his chancellor of the Exchequer, a man of great experience. But his great problem, how does he differentiate himself from Tony Blair's period in office?

His big worry is that the -- a country yearning for change will feel that they have got to elect the conservatives at the next election to get that change. So he wants to demonstrate it's a very different kind of person who has moved into Number 10.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OAKLEY (voice over): Out with the old, on with the new. Carefully choreographed between two men who have often wanted to grip each other warmly by the throat, it was the moment for which Tony Blair's successor had waited 13 years.

BLAIR: Friends and colleagues, the new leader of the Labour Party, Gordon Brown.

OAKLEY: In 10 years as chancellor of the Exchequer, finance minister, Gordon Brown has given Britain its longest-ever period of growth. But what kind of man now takes on the role of Britain's prime minister?

PETER KELLNER, YOUGOV POLLS: Whereas Tony Blair came to politics ideologically light, Gordon Brown came ideologically heavy. The son of a Church of Scotland minister, when moral and social values were drummed into him at a very early age.

BROWN: Duty, honesty, hard work, family, respect for others -- and this is what my parents taught me, and it will never leave me.

OAKLEY: Brought up in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Gordon Brown was a child prodigy. He won his way to Edinburgh University at only 16, there achieving one of the best records in decades. And then he was elected rector of the university at 21, a post often held previously by former political heavyweights.

But one desperate accident had interrupted his progress. After a blow playing rugby, he lost the sight of one eye. He had to face a series of operations to save the sight in the other.

JONATHAN WILLIS, FRIEND OF GORDON BROWN: Gordon's never known how long he's got his sight for. He's in a hurry.

OAKLEY: In a hurry, but he's had to wait. Longer than he thought after he and Tony Blair did a deal back in 1994 on who got first crack at the party leadership and the chance of becoming prime minister.

In recent years, the two have clashed furiously behind the scenes. Blair cut free of Labour ideology. Brown emphasizes his party roots.

BROWN: Best when we're boldest, bet when we're united, best when we are Labour.

You don't defeat the (INAUDIBLE) by imitation or just by better presentation, but by labour policies and labour reforms grounded in our labour values.

OAKLEY: Brown's task now is to signal change without condemning 10 years of Blair's Labour government, so he's sending strong signals on style changes. Less informal sofa government, less glitz and glamour, less spin. No holidays in pop stars' homes.

BROWN: The party I lead must have more than a set of policies. We must have a soul.

OAKLEY: He's also got to reassure Britain's middle classes he doesn't want to tax them to the hilt, a process he began in his final budget.

BROWN: I will from next April cut the basic rate of income tax from 22 pence to 20 pence.

(APPLAUSE)

BROWN: It is the lowest basic rate. It is the lowest basic rate for 75 years.

OAKLEY: The outside world will wonder how much change on Iraq? Not much, it seems, to begin with.

BROWN: We have made promises to the United Nations about our responsibilities. Other countries are involved with us. This is not the right time to talk about numbers. It's the right time to say that I not only applaud the troops for what they're doing, but we will keep our promises.

OAKLEY: But the image is forbidding, (INAUDIBLE) uncuddly. And he has the reputation of a cliquish control freak to counter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to be totally loyal to Gordon if you work in his network, and he'll be loyal to you, he'll stand up for you. But if you're not, then you're out. OAKLEY: After Blair, the great communicator, will that prove Brown's undoing? Polls disagree. The public don't see him as a man with whom they'd want to share a drink.

KELLNER: But they do regard Gordon Brown as being strong, as being tough, as being decisive, as being experienced. And I think most people would say those are the qualities that really matter, when at the end of the day people are choosing a prime minister.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OAKLEY: In every sense of the word, it's a serious politician who has now moved into Number 10. What his party wants to know is how well Gordon Brown will cope with the change of pace in the top job and whether he'll prove an election winner like Tony Blair -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Well, Robin, as a serious politician moves into Number 10, we are getting word that Tony Blair has been made the Mideast envoy for the quartet. It appears that is now official, as we said.

He's on his way to his constituency to resign as a member of parliament. So you may never see him back here at the Palace of Westminster.

Your thoughts on his job, the challenges that he faces now going forward. This is Tony Blair, of course.

OAKLEY: Yes, this much-touted position as the Middle East peace envoy for the quartet -- the EU, the U.S., Russia and the U.N. And the U.N. have confirmed now that Tony Blair is going to be the quartet's peace envoy.

He was asked about that in the House of Commons this afternoon by David Cameron, the leaders of the conservatives, what such a job would involve, what the priorities were. And he said the key thing was the two-state solution. Israel had to be guaranteed of its safe existence behind secure borders, and the Palestinians had to grow the correct institutions and an effective economy. And that, said Mr. Blair, would involve a huge amount of work.

Now, the question is whether because George W. Bush has pushed him so hard for this job and because Mr. Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, has been so keen on Tony Blair taking it, whether Arab leaders are going to cooperate sufficiently with Tony Blair in this job. He is considered suspect with many of them because of his role in the war in Iraq, because of his slowness in calling for a cease- fire in Lebanon last summer.

There are real question marks about Tony Blair's alignment, in the eyes of many Arab leaders, but nobody questions his commitment to the cause of peace in the Middle East. And Tony Blair has always argued that the key to that is getting peace initially between the Israelis and the Palestinians -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Robin Oakley at 10 Downing Street. And very much more analysis and insight into that new role for Tony Blair ahead this hour. And indeed, more on the new prime minister here in the U.K. More special coverage of the changing of the guard in British politics.

In our next segment, we'll take a look a the close relationship between the former prime minister and the current U.S. president. A bond that some critics say was a major force behind Tony Blair leaving office.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLAIR: We therefore here in Britain stand shoulder to shoulder with our American friends in this hour of tragedy, and we, like them, will not rest until this evil is driven from our world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Tony Blair speaking on the day of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Years earlier, Blair had forged close ties with then-president Bill Clinton. And the war on terror cemented Blair's relationship with Clinton's successor.

The first meeting between President George W. Bush and Blair actually happened way back in February, 2001, only a month after Mr. Bush's inauguration. Sixty-seven British citizens were killed on September the 11th, and Blair declared his unconditional support to President Bush.

Britain then entered the war in Afghanistan. Blair worked closely with the White House to build the case against Iraq at the United Nations.

In his 2002 State of the Union speech, Mr. Bush cited British intelligence when he claimed that Saddam Hussein he had bought elements for a nuclear weapon in Africa. That claim was later retracted.

Well, in March, 2003, against British public opinion, Blair provided the biggest non-U.S. military contingent in the Iraq invasion.

Let's get to our chief national correspondent now, John King, for a little more insight into the potential relationship between the new British prime minister, Gordon Brown, and indeed, the president, George W. Bush.

I'm also joined by Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour. John, firstly, your thoughts on what is an historic day here in the U.K. The U.K. has a new prime minister. We have an outgoing prime minister who was a close associate and friend of the president of the U.S.

What do you expect going forward?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, most people in the United States expect a very close relationship still between the United States and Great Britain, but much less of a personal bond and a friendship bond and an ideological bond on the issue of terrorism between the new prime minister, Gordon Brown, and the president of the United States, George W. Bush.

The two men have met just once. Mr. Brown did come to the Oval Office just a short time ago to have a meeting with the United States, a meeting he says went well. But we do not expect the two leaders to have the personal affinity and the personal passion, if you will, for fighting terrorism together side by side, as Mr. Bush demonstrated so long with Mr. Blair.

Mr. Brown also has friends in the Democratic Party establishment here in the United States. So he is -- he is no less friendly to the United States, by all accounts, than Mr. Blair was. But most people do expect a less personal bond, a more professional relationship. And obviously the two will not have the shared crisis that Mr. Blair had with Mr. Bush.

That is the biggest question when it comes to the Bush-Brown relationship. And, of course, many in the United States watching as well because of the high stakes of Mr. Blair's new role as a special Mideast envoy as well -- Becky.

ANDERSON: And that's what I want to talk about now, John. I've got Christiane Amanpour, as I say, here, our chief international correspondent.

Many will say this is an extremely controversial posting for Tony Blair, a man who was solid to a certain extent as far as his legacy is concerned with his association with George Bush in the war on Iraq -- or in Iraq.

Christiane, your thoughts on this new position for Tony Blair.

AMANPOUR: Well, it's an interesting position, because he's going to be envoy for the quartet. It's not an independent position.

It's a position as sort of a senior envoy to a body that already exists and that, quite frankly, the entire process is moribund right now. There is no movement when it comes to trying to make peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. And right now it's even worse because the Palestinians are separated in two geographical and ideological political camps -- West Bank, Fatah; Gaza, Hamas.

What to do, how to get them into the process, who to get into the process? Apparently, Tony Blair is going to be sort of the envoy to the Palestinians, help them get their institutions up, to the Palestinian Authority. But the key test is, is he going to be able to talk tough, honest and objective to all of the parties that matter?

First and foremost, to the Palestinians and to the Israelis, and also to the United States. Will he be able to get George Bush and this current administration to actually really be involved in the Middle East peace process, which people think without a U.S. involvement, it won't happen.

ANDERSON: And it's an interesting point, isn't it, John? Because it was yesterday that the State Department actually announced this position was likely, effectively telling the world, yes, it's the quartet who has decided they want Tony Blair in this position. But ultimately, being pushed, one assumes, by the U.S. and, indeed, by the Israelis.

Your thoughts?

KING: No question that Mr. Blair is somebody that George W. Bush trusts. So he would welcome him in the envoy role.

At the same time, one of Tony Blair's principal complaints -- everyone talks about his working together with George W. Bush, his support for George W. Bush. It obviously cost him his political standing back home in Great Britain.

One of the things George W. Bush likes most about Tony Blair is that when he complains, he does so in private. And one of his frequent complaints, we are told, has been just to the point that Christiane just mentioned, that the United States, in Mr. Blair's view, has not been as day to day as aggressively and as ambitiously involved in the Middle East as Mr. Blair believes it should be.

So now he will be in this role, and it is an extraordinarily difficult role, trying first to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian problem. But think about the bigger picture as well.

If Mr. Blair's role expands out, he is someone who has disagreed with Mr. Bush on the question of talking to Syria, disagreed with Mr. Bush of whether there should be high-level talked with Iran. So he is in a potentially critical new role. The short term, the focus will be on Israeli-Palestinian, but could Mr. Blair ultimately push the United States to change its policy when it comes to Iran and Syria? Those bigger questions are now on the table as well.

ANDERSON: John King in Washington, and Christiane Amanpour here with me in London.

More from Christiane later this hour.

But coming up, an unlikely pairing who formed a special bond over an unpopular war. How will the new era in British politics change Transatlantic ties?

That we will examine after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: The relationship between a British prime minister and an American president must and ought to be a very strong one, and I look forward to building that relationship with the president of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, many are wondering just what kind of relationship Mr. Brown will have with the U.S. leader and how he plans to heal the wounds in Great Britain over the Iraq war, of course.

Mr. Brown talked about the unpopular war with the "Independent" newspaper. He gave a re-sounding "no" in response to a reader's question who asked if he thought it was wrong to invade Iraq, but said -- and I quote -- "There's no doubt that mistakes were made in our planning for what happened after the removal of Saddam, and I think it's important to learn the lessons and go forward knowing that proper procedures are going to be in place that will command the confidence of not just of parliament, but the confidence of the general public."

Well, for some insight now on what we can expect from the relationship between Mr. Brown and Mr. Bush, I'm joined now by Gregory Katz, who's the London bureau chief for "The Houston Chronicle".

And with me still is our chief international correspondent, of course, Christiane Amanpour.

Let's talk about this relationship and what we might expect.

First, what are your -- what are your thoughts at this point?

GREGORY KATZ, "HOUSTON CHRONICLE": Well, I think what we're going to see is Gordon Brown is going to be playing to his domestic audience. He knows that Bush is unpopular in Britain. He knows the war is unpopular. And in a way, his hands are tied.

He can't really do anything substantive. He's not going to take the troops out of Basra.

So I look for him to do something to distance himself symbolically or rhetorically from Bush, to either say or do something harsh and put some distance between himself and Tony Blair, who always supported the president 100 percent.

ANDERSON: Agree?

ANDERSON: Agreed, because the relationship is solid and there's no way that they're going to change the basic structure and the reasons for this incredible bond between the U.S. and Great Britain. But even U.S. officials say that Tony Blair went overboard in supporting President Bush.

Now, clearly, he did it because he believed in the whole issue of going to war and removing Saddam Hussein. But the thing is, many people look to that special relationship as one that can actually have some constructive involvement, some constructive influence.

Let's go back, for instance, to Margaret Thatcher during the Reagan era. She was a wholehearted Reagan fan, supporter, ally. But when it came to certain issues such as Libya and all those big political issues, she also had her moment where she put the brakes on.

And people feel that Tony Blair didn't use his unique position and role as such a close friend of George W. Bush to actually caution and temper what was going on.

ANDERSON: Let's face it, Greg, Gordon Brown would be ideologically better, make a better fit with a Democrat-led administration, wouldn't he? I mean, at this point -- some 14, 15 months ago? Do you not agree with me?

AMANPOUR: Well, you know, they say the same about Blair. New Labour, new Democrats. Blair-Clinton, how is it going to translate Blair-Bush? and it did, in spades.

KATZ: Because of Iraq I think, and 9/11. But basically, the people around Blair were very skeptical of George W. Bush. If you were with him the night before the Supreme Court anointed Bush, they were speaking of him with complete and total skepticism. The next day, when he's the president-elect, they had total discipline and you haven't heard a bad word about him since.

But in his heart of hearts, Gordon Brown has to be quite uncomfortable with a very conservative, very doctrinaire government in the United States. So, this is not -- he would be much more comfortable with a Bill or a Hillary Clinton, I think.

ANDERSON: We're going to leave it for the time being, but we're going to come back to this conversation, it's (ph) an important one, after this short break.

You're watching YOUR WORLD TODAY, a special edition from here, outside the Palace of Westminster on a day that -- there was a big change in British politics. Out goes Tony Blair, in comes the new prime minister, Gordon Brown. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson, live in London, and you are watching a special edition of YOUR WORLD TODAY on the changing of the guard in Britain.

After a decade in power, Tony Blair has stepped down and Finance Minister Gordon Brown is the new prime minister. I'm joined by our Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour here, and Greg Katz, who -- speaking to.

I want to put to you the news that we've just heard from the wires that Tony Blair is effectively now the new Mid East envoy for the Quartet. The Quartet hopes to create some peace in the Middle East. A lot of skepticism, Greg, about his taking this position.

KATZ: Well, I was surprised that it all came together, and here's what I think might happen. I agree these negotiations are dead. They're going nowhere, they've been going nowhere, there's no momentum. If anything, the momentum is going the wrong way.

So, I don't see him mediating and making any progress, but I think it's possible he may in effect help the Palestinians make their case to the world, they have never had an effective spokesman in the west in a suit and tie making their case, and he may well do that. And that could help move the process slowly six months from now, perhaps.

ANDERSON: What can he though, Christiane, do now that he couldn't do when he was in office, in convincing the president of the U.S. to effect some sort of action?

AMANPOUR: Well, that's the big question, and really the power and effectiveness of his job depends on the scope. And really, we don't exactly know the scope of what he's going -- is he just going to be an advocate, envoy, facilitator for the Palestinians, or does he have real negotiating ability with the Israelis?

But the key is, the key is, will he get President Bush and this Bush administration to apply themselves in terms of intervening in this issue as a real robust third party, to bring those parties together. Can he, out of office, get Bush to do what he couldn't do when he was in office?

ANDERSON: Would it be unfair, Greg, to suggest that in taking this position, and some are surprised that he has taken this position because there are many others on the world stage that he might have taken, that it isn't -- in an effort to rescue a legacy that has been sullied by the Mid East region.

KATZ: Very much so, and I think he's incredibly lucky that this came along. This is a perfect arena for him. This keeps him in play, he's still a player, he's still going to be on the tube. He's going to be traveling the world, and this is perfect for him. And if he makes any progress, he may upstage Gordon Brown.

AMANPOUR: And can I just say, he's very lucky, but he has always wanted this position, not this position, but this reality, the peace between Israel and the Palestinians, because way different and way before President Bush and this administration, he believed passionately that a just solution for all sides was -- is what was going to change for the better that region.

Not what President Bush believed, which was that peace in Jerusalem was through Baghdad, but the reverse. Blair believes that you have to get the Israelis and the Palestinians together before you can affect the greater Middle East.

ANDERSON: Greg, Christiane, we thank you very much indeed for joining us on that. As Tony Blair now ends one chapter of his political life, he begins another. Probably more difficult role as we've been suggesting, as Mid East envoy for the Quartet. He will be focusing on helping the Palestinians build the institutions needed for a viable state. That's certainly is what we have heard.

More now from Paula Hancocks who joins us from Jerusalem. Paula?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, it turns out that Tony Blair was really the only candidate that was being considered for this particular job. And there have been many days of wrangling and talks. It appears the Russian delegation wasn't completely on board with this idea at the beginning. And certainly, in the Middle East, there are some very mixed reactions as to Tony Blair's new position.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS (voice-over): Smiles and handshakes six months ago, the last time Tony Blair met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

But since then, everything has changed. The militant Islamist group, Hamas seized control of Gaza by force from their partners in a Palestinian government, Fatah. Four hundred people have been killed this year in Gaza, according to Palestinian medical sources. And President Abbas has named a new emergency government without Hamas.

Gaza and the West Bank are divided geographically and politically. The hopes of a unified Palestinian state and a peace deal with Israel dashed. It's a huge challenge Tony Blair believes he is ready for, but the question is, are the Palestinians ready for Blair?

He's welcome in the corridors of power in Ramallah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He has a vision on how to deal with the economic situation. The main issue that we would cooperate on is the economic issue. I think he will be a valuable addition.

HANCOCKS: But there's a fairly damning assessment of Blair on the streets of Ramallah.

This lady tells us, "I am not optimistic because he was prime minister. If he wanted to do something, why hasn't he done it already. If he didn't help us in the first job, why would he help us in the second job?"

The owner of this jewelry shop says he doesn't trust Blair at all and doesn't believe anything will change.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I doubt it very much because he was involved from before, for the Middle East for him to solve it, and it just got worse.

HANCOCKS: Blair's first job will be to change the perception that he is pro-Israeli, pro-American and damaged from his involvement in the war in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Many things depend on the mandate (ph) that he will offered by the Quartet itself, but I don't think that this will make any difference for a man who is considered pro-Israeli over the Palestinian leaders.

HANCOCKS: The reaction in Israel is positive. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Blair is a true friend of Israel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS: But we must remember that Tony Blair is a true friend of Israel. But we must remember that Tony Blair does have some qualifications in brokering peace. Certainly in northern Ireland, he showed himself to be hands on and persistent, and he brought two sworn enemies together to share power.

And that is a skill he is definitely going to need in this region. Certainly to start with Becky, he has to try and encourage the Palestinians themselves to take a unified position.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Paula Hancocks in Jerusalem. And just a reminder for you, we will hear from Tony Blair within the next hour. He's in the north of England at his constituency, where he will be resigning as a member of the House of Commons in order to take up that role as Middle East envoy.

Well, in the House of Commons, David Cameron, leader of the opposition Conservative party saluted Blair's achievements earlier today, and he also wished him well hand (ph). Before the announcement that Blair will take on the role of the envoy for the Middle East Quartet, Cameron wanted to know what his priorities there would be.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CAMERON, U.K. CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER: Clearly, this is a very difficult time in the Middle East with the desperate situation in the Gaza strip and instability in the West Bank. All against the backdrop of a Palestinian economy that has failed to development. Can the prime minister tell us what his first job will be if and when he takes on this new role?

BLAIR: The absolute priority is try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution, which means a state of Israel that is secure and confident of its security, and a Palestinian state that is not merely viable in terms territory, but in terms of its institutions and governance.

I believe it is possible to do that, but it will require a huge intensity of focus and work.

CAMERON: When it comes to the Palestinian territories, clearly on everyone's mind in this country is the fact that Alan Johnston is still in captivity. All of us who saw that chilling video will feel enormous sympathy for him, for his family, for his colleagues. His continued captivity is utterly senseless and serves no cause.

Will the prime minister agree with me, that as many Palestinians have demonstrated in the territories and actually here in Britain, that their interests can best be served if he is released immediately?

BLAIR: I should say in respect to Alan Johnston, we deeply regret the fact of his continued imprisonment, and we are working closely with the BBC and with the Palestinian authority to do everything we can to secure his release. And, it is absolutely right, I'm sure the majority of Palestinian people want see him released.

I think it is worth simply pointing out as well, he was a journalist doing a job as a journalist. It is completely without any justification at all, and to take him as a target for any action of whatever nature. And I would also simply point out that I believe for the majority of Palestinian and Israeli people, they want to see a situation where hostage taking and violence is a thing of the past and the two groups of people can live together in peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Tony Blair in Parliament earlier today. His last prime minister's question time (ph). Just ahead, huge (unintelligible) baggage, will Tony Blair's new role as Mideast peacemaker be torpedoed by his controversy support for the war in Iraq? Stay with us.

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BLAIR: I have never come across people of such sustained dedication, courage, and commitment. I am truly sorry about the dangers that they face today in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know some may think that they face these dangers in vain. I don't, and I never will. I believe they are fighting for the security of this country and the wider world against people who would destroy our way of life.

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ANDERSON: We continue our coverage of the transition of power in Britain with a focus on Tony Blair's controversial support of the war in Iraq. It was a stance that caused a slip in Blair's popularity during his last years in office. Nevertheless, he maintained that position all the way until the end of his time in office.

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BLAIR: It is our policy to come out of Iraq when the job is done. What is very dangerous is any suggestion we get out before the job is done.

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ANDERSON: Well, Blair's support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq makes for some pretty awful baggage to carry into his new role as Mideast peace envoy. What are the chances then, Tony Blair can succeed where so many others have failed? Well, let's ask someone who knows only too well the challenges facing Tony Blair.

Zalmay Khalilzad, he was formally the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and is now the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Joining us live today from Washington. It's a tough position to take on. He wants it. What are the challenges that he faces, do you think, sir?

ZALMAY KHALILZAD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Well, he faces big challenges, but at the same time, this is very important. The future of the Middle East is the defining challenge of our time. And the issue that affects that future, one of the key issues is the Israeli/Palestinian issue.

To resolve that issue, you need strong Palestinian institutions to move toward the two-state solution. One Palestine and one Israel. And Tony Blair brings a lot to the table to assist them. It's a tough challenge, but I think he has the capabilities and the relationships that could assist these two people, the Palestinians and the Israelis to move towards peace.

ANDERSON: All right, ambassador. What qualities does Tony Blair have, then, to your mind, that James Wolfensohn, the former U.S. Envoy didn't have? Because speaking to him recently he said this job is almost an impossibility. And he stepped down from it, didn't he? Since then, things have gotten much, much, much worse in the region.

KHALILZAD: There is no question that this is a very, very difficult challenge. But among the options available, among the people that were out there who could take on this task, who is better qualified out there than Prime Minister Blair? Who knows President Bush, who knows the Israelis well, who knows the Palestinian leadership, President Abbas.

Who has worked hard for peace in northern Ireland, has a lot to show. Who has a lot of political skills that are required both in terms of building a Palestinian institution, but also in terms of compromises that need to be proposed between the Israelis and the Palestinians. I think he's a terrific person for this job. We're delighted that he's accepted to do it.

ANDERSON: Okay. Ambassador, I want to quote Gordon Brown to you now. And he said this, " Iraq is a divisive issue for our party and for our country". He pledges to learn lessons that need to be learned at this stage. You have an inordinate amount of experience now in Iraq and indeed in the region. Let's talk about Iraq. What do you expect Gordon Brown's policy to be going forward? And, if there were any changes, or if there were to be changes, or if there were to be changes, how do you think the region would react?

KHALILZAD: I believe that it's likely to be a continuation of the Blair policies, one in which the goal is to get Iraqis to take on more security responsibilities, to reduce the sources of violence, and as they -- that happens, to adapt by reducing the presence of coalition forces, including the British forces. I believe that the pressure on everyone in the U.K. and the U.S. is great to press the Iraqis to make the compromises that they need to make to reduce the sources of violence, to be able to sustain the support for the policies that the United States, and Iraq and the U.K. are pursuing.

ANDERSON: Sir, you and I both know it's a mess in Iraq, isn't it, Now? how destructive would it be if the U.K. were to draw down more of their forces, and to effectively -- and there's no suggestion this is what will happen. But a change in policy here, the idea that forces will be brought out, perhaps go to Afghanistan, leaving effectively, the U.S. there to clear up the mess?

KHALILZAD: Well, Afghanistan is important as well. And it's part of the two big pillars in terms of shaping the future of this broader region. And I think that there could be a situation in which given where the British forces are, some reduction in their relative position, in coordination with the rest of the coalition there, could happen. But that's a judgment that the commanders on the ground have to make. The goal is not to keep the current number of forces whether they're U.S. or Brits there; the goal is how to adapt, in terms of reconciliation, in terms of forces, so there will be a lesser need for the numbers that are there now. And that's a judgment that the commanders will have to make, whether in the zones where the British forces are, the situation where some reduction could take place without increasing the risk for the overall project.

ANDERSON: All right. Zalmay Khalilzad, who is the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. in Washington today. We thank you very much, sir, indeed, for joining us.

Still ahead this hour on CNN, a decade in power. Tony Blair has been at the helm of British politics through all the good times, and indeed the rough ones. A look back at the defining moments in his era. That, after this.

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ANDERSON: Well, you're watching a special edition of YOUR WORLD TODAY with me, Becky Anderson, in London.

Now the world has undergone many changes in the past decade, and Tony Blair has been the voice of comfort and controversy. He led his country in mourning after Diana's death.

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BLAIR: She was the people's princess, and that's how she will be stay, how she will remain, in our hearts and in our memories forever.

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ANDERSON: He was a voice of moderation in the troubles in Northern Ireland.

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BLAIR: I feel the hand of history upon our shoulder in respect to this.

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ANDERSON: And he stood by one of his country's closest allies, the United States, after the World Trade Center attacks. And he showed his support by sending British troops to Iraq in a war that is unpopular in both his party and his country.

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BLAIR: It's our policy to come out of Iraq when the job is done. What is very dangerous is any suggestion we get out before the job is done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, a mixed legacy sure to be debated by historians. And his new role as Mideast envoy just beginning.

That is it for this hour, this special hour. I'm Becky Anderson in London. You're watching CNN.

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