Gordon Brown announced on Tuesday his resignation as British prime minister and leader of the Labour Party. Conservative leader David Cameron was sworn into office shortly afterwards.
Brown, who has served as British Prime Minister for less than three years, announced his resignation outside 10 Downing Street live on British television.
"I loved the job for its potential to make this country I love fairer, more tolerant, more green, more democratic, more prosperous and more just - truly a greater Britain," he said.
"In the face of many years, challenges up to and including the global financial meltdown, I have always tried to serve, to do my best in the interests of Britain, its values and its people."
His wife, two young sons and members of his former office stood by him as he made his farewell.
"In this hour I want to thank all my colleagues, ministers, members of parliament. And I want to thank above all my staff, who have been friends as well as brilliant servants of the country."
"Thank you and goodbye," he concluded.
Immediately after announcing his resignation, Brown went to Buckingham Palace to officially tender his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II and recommend the appointment of Conservative leader David Cameron in his place.
David Cameron and his wife Samantha went to the palace to accept the Queens invitation to form a government immediately after Brown left.
British parliamentary elections on May 6 resulted in a hung parliament, with no single party winning enough seats to form a government.
The Conservatives are the largest of the three main parties in government with 306 seats out of 650. The Labour Party won 258 and the Liberal Democrats 57. A majority of 326 seats is needed for any one party to form a majority government.
The political parties have been negotiating potential coalitions since the election results became known. The combined seats of Labour and the Liberal Democrats were insufficient to form a majority; a deal between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties is far more likely.
Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman was named acting head of the Labour Party shortly after Brown stood down.
LONDON, May 11 (RIA Novosti)
