Brown 'humbled' to be chosen leader

The Chancellor was confirmed as Prime Minister-in-waiting after securing the nominations of 313 MPs - leaving too few for a challenger to force a contest.

Mr Brown said he was "truly humbled" by the level of support he had received, hailing it as a sign of unity and saying he was "honoured" by the chance to lead the party.

He will be officially installed as leader on June 24, just days before Mr Blair is due to step down as PM.

Tory leader David Cameron attacked the delay, demanding an end to "this ludicrous situation of having a caretaker government". "We are going to have weeks of a Prime Minister on a farewell tour when the Government should be getting on with the business of governing the country," he said.

But Mr Brown insisted he would spend the remaining weeks on the frontline of the NHS and talking to police officers, parents and others to inform his policy programme.

"To build trust in our democracy I'm sure we need a more open form of dialogue with citizens and politicians to genuinely talk about problems and solutions. It is about a different type of politics, a more open and honest dialogue," he said at a press conference to mark his nomination.

When drawing up his agenda for the Queen's Speech, he would be "listening and learning and involving and engaging the voices of people too often left unheard", he said.

And he promised: "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, to those who feel Westminster is a distant place and politics all too often a spectator sport, I will strive to earn your trust - to earn your trust not just in foreign policy, but in our schools and our hospitals and our public services and to respond to your concerns.

"I will lead a new Government with new priorities; I believe government only works when it's dedicated to serving the people. This is who I am and I will do my best for all the people of Britain."