Across the Pond

Gordon Brown Quits as Prime Minister

Hopes to better Labour's odds at keeping power.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has fallen on his sword: He announced on Monday that he will quit as the leader of the Labour Party—a move he hopes will entice the Liberal Democrats to join Labour, rather than the Conservatives, in forming a new government. "As leader of my party, I must accept that [the hung parliament] is a judgment on me," he said. "I have asked the party to set in process [a leadership contest]." He also announced that Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg "wishes to take forward formal discussions with the Labour Party." Brown will remain prime minister until the makeup of the next government is decided.