Britain's Brown pledges new style of government

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) Gordon Brown, confirmed tosday as Britain's next prime minister, promised a new style of government to rebuild trust in a demoralised and unpopular Labour Party after a decade of Tony Blair.

But Brown said he was not announcing any shift in London's relationship with Washington, despite public anger over Blair's unwavering support for US President George W Bush over Iraq.

''I will lead a new government with new priorities,'' Brown said after Labour named him the sole leadership candidate. ''It is about a different type of politics, a more open and honest dialogue.'' He pledged to restore public trust in politicians, to listen and learn and to make health and education his top priorities.

Today marks the culmination of an agonising 13-year wait for Brown to become Labour leader. The leader of the ruling party automatically takes over as prime minister.

Brown will not succeed as prime minister, however, until Blair resigns on June 27.

Brown inherits a party and a country divided by the Iraq war and disillusioned after a decade of Blair. He will have his work cut out to ensure a fourth straight Labour victory in the next national election due by 2010 at the latest.

Brown has wasted no time in setting out his vision but the fact that he will not face a vote for the job, not even internally, has been seized on by the Conservatives' youthful leader David Cameron who called the transition ''ludicrous''.

''If Gordon Brown really wants to restore trust, he should give the British people the chance to vote on him in a general election,'' the Conservatives said in a statement.

BOUNCE FOR LABOUR Brown was assured a clear run to the premiership after his only potential rival, a left-wing Labour lawmaker, failed to win enough support from fellow parliamentarians to get on the ballot paper. Brown won the backing of 313 of 353 Labour deputies.

''To those who feel that the political system doesn't listen and doesn't care, to those who somehow feel powerless and have lost faith ... I will strive to earn your trust,'' Brown said.

Brown promised constitutional changes to make politicians more accountable. Critics accused Blair of centralising power, bypassing parliament and being obsessed with image.

Brown ''has started off talking about the right kinds of things,'' said Labour member of parliament Ian Gibson, a frequent Blair critic. ''He's going to have to swing into action pretty quickly to restore people's confidence.'' Opinion polls show the start of Brown's leadership campaign has given Labour a bounce, but the Conservatives still lead.

On Iraq -- a policy that in part forced Blair's early exit from office -- Brown has said mistakes were made but has refused to withdraw troops immediately.

Today, Brown also rejected suggestions he should distance himself from the United States, while also avoiding any direct reference to Bush.

''The relationship between a British prime minister and an American president must and should be a very strong one, and I look forward to building that relationship with the president of the United States,'' he said, as Blair met Bush in Washington.

Labour parliamentarian Ian Davidson said he welcomed signs that Brown would stand up more for Britain's interests.

''We are much less likely to be seen in future as America's poodle as we have been until now,'' he said.

REUTERS PB VV2242