Gordon Brown clears party hurdle

LONDON, May 17 (UPI) -- Gordon Brown will become Britain's next prime minister without a party leadership fight.

The Telegraph reported that Brown received an overwhelming majority of the nominations cast by Labor Party members of Parliament, eliminating his only rival for the party leadership, John McDonnell. The nomination vote was 353-29.

"Labor's rules are clear: to be a candidate you need to be able to demonstrate significant support from your fellow MPs. I am delighted that my fellow Labor MPs have overwhelmingly united around Gordon as the candidate to take Britain forward when Tony Blair steps down," Labor Chief Whip Jacqui Smith said in the Telegraph.

Brown will officially become Labor Party leader at a party conference June 24 in Manchester. He is scheduled to assume office on June 27.