Tributes to departing PM show pride in Labour record

Education Secretary Ed Balls, a close ally of Mr Brown. called it a "sad day for the Labour Party" and the former Prime Minister could leave with pride at what he had achieved. "It's the end of an era," said Mr Balls. "It's the end of the Gordon Brown era."

Another outgoing cabinet member, former Health Secretary Andy Burnham, said it had "been a pleasure to serve under him".

Sheffield Central MP and former Home Secretary David Blunkett called Mr Brown's resignation "a sad moment".

"There can be few tasks in life as thankless as being Prime Minister," he said. "This is true in spades when dealing with a global recession in which everywhere else in the world is affected – but your own electorate have no-one else to blame but you.

"That is why everyone, including those who have been vitriolic about Gordon Brown, should have the decency to say 'Thank you' for his tremendous contribution to getting nations to work together over the last two years to combat what would have been a global depression.

"I am deeply proud of what we have achieved in government over the last 13 years.

"I am convinced that we can reconnect with voters and ensure that when the election as is called, as it surely will be within the next two years, we avoid letting people down and ensure that we have the hopes and aspirations of families across Britain firmly in our sights."

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: "Like many people, I am naturally disappointed that the Conservatives will form the next Government. Whilst the Liberal Democrats are fully entitled to link up with the Tories, I am sorry that they rejected the opportunity for a progressive coalition government to fundamentally change British politics.

"I am proud of Labour's many achievements in government. We have transformed public services and public infrastructure and there are two million more jobs in Britain.

"We will be using every opportunity to try to prevent Conservative plans for savage and early cuts in public sector jobs and services."

Irish Premier Brian Cowen said Mr Brown as a very good friend to Ireland who had made an extraordinary personal contribution to the talks that led to the Hillsborough agreement and provided strong and insightful international leadership in the global economic crisis.