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Friday 05 March 2004
British Chancellor to quit politics?
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Reports that the (British) Chancellor, Gordon Brown, could be about to quit British politics to become head of the International Monetary Fund have been described as speculation by a treasury spokesman. The Fund is looking for a new head after the managing director, Horst Koehler, resigned on Thursday. This report from John Andrew |
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In theory, Gordon Brown will be a strong candidate. He already chairs the IMF's key decision-making committee and getting the job would allow him to pursue his goal of tackling global poverty. His, though, isn't the only name being mentioned in Washington as a likely contender. He'd be up against prominent banking and political figures from France, Spain and Poland.
The job is a five-year posting and if he did leave Tony Blair's government, it would end one of the longest and most successful partnerships in modern British politics, as well as dashing the hopes of those who see the chancellor as Mr Blair's natural successor.
A treasury spokesman would only say that the reports were speculation and that it was far too premature to comment. True or not though, the rumours can't do the chancellor's reputation any harm.
Listen to the words
Chairs
If you chair a meeting or a group you are the chairman or chairwoman
Pursue
To make efforts to achieve a particular aim or result
Tackling
Dealing with a difficult task in a determined way
Prominent
Important
Posting
A job that you are given which involves going to a different town or country
Dashing
Making it impossible to get what you hope for
Speculation
If you speculate about something, you think about it together with all its possible effects
Premature
Something that happens earlier than usual or earlier than people expect
Rumours
Stories or information that may or may not be true but that people are talking about
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