2007年VOA标准英语-Britain's Next PM Promises Different Kind of Go

By Tom Rivers
London
17 May 2007

Britons can expect a new style of government when Gordon Brown takes over from Prime Minister Tony Blair next month.  That is the promise Mr. Brown has made to a country eager to see government trust rebuilt.  For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from London.

Having secured the backing of the vast majority of Labour politicians in parliament, Gordon Brown will become the next British prime minister, without a runoff party election.

He will simply succeed Tony Blair on June 27 when, after a decade in office, Mr. Blair will step down.

Speaking in London, Mr. Brown, the country's long-serving finance minister, said he it will be an honor to lead the nation.

"I am truly humbled¹ that so many of my colleagues have nominated me for the leadership of the Labour Party and I formally accept the nomination², the responsibility it brings and the opportunity to serve the people of Britain," he said.

A lot has happened during the last 10 years under Mr. Blair's leadership, and Gordon Brown will inherit a demoralized and unpopular Labour Party lagging far behind the opposition³ Conservatives in the polls.

But Mr. Brown promises change and a new approach.

"I will lead a new government with new priorities," he said. "I believe government only works when it is dedicated⁴ to serving the people.  I will always try to put your concerns and aspirations⁵ at the heart of what I do. I will work hard for you. This is who I am."

Brown said he will not announce any shift in London's relationship with Washington, despite widespread public disquiet⁶ in Britain over Mr. Blair's unwavering support for the president on Iraq. 

In Washington, Prime Minister Blair met with President Bush at the White House where they later held a joint⁷ news conference.

Mr. Blair congratulated Gordon Brown on his landslide⁸ victory in Labour Party backing.

President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair talk outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, 17 May 2007

"Having signed Gordon's nomination forms and nominated him as leader, of course I wish him well and I believe he will make a great prime minister, and I know he believes in the relationship with America too," he said.

Asked about what kind of relationship he might have with Mr. Brown, President Bush said he expects a smooth transition.

"I hope to help him in office the way Tony Blair helped me," he said.  "Newly-elected president, Tony Blair came over, he reached out, he was gracious and was able to converse⁹ in a way where our shared interests were the most important aspect of the relationship.  I would hope I would provide the same opportunities for Gordon Brown.  I met him.  Thought he was a good fellow."

Gordon Brown says he will tour the country during the next six weeks to better understand the challenges that lie ahead.  During much of that time, Mr. Blair will be traveling overseas.

1 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

5 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

6 disquiet   

n.担心，焦虑

参考例句：

• The disquiet will boil over in the long run.这种不安情绪终有一天会爆发的。
• Her disquiet made us uneasy too.她的忧虑使我们也很不安。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

9 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。