Brown linked to IMF role

Brown linked to IMF role

Brown linked to IMF role

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is said to be lining up Gordon Brown as a possible replacement for Horst Koehler, who resigned as managing director yesterday.

While there has been no indication that Mr Brown is planning to quit as Labour’s longest serving chancellor, head of the IMF is one of the few positions he would have to give serious consideration to.

The Guardian newspaper reports this morning that the IMF has identified a number of candidates following Mr Koehler’s decision to resign and run for the German presidency.

Sources close to Mr Brown told the broadsheet that he would “think about it seriously” if the IMF made a formal approach.

Quitting as chancellor would bring an end to his lifelong quest to become prime minister, a goal that has looked all the more distant in recent months.

Tony Blair has made no secret of his desire to continue in his role, claiming that he still has the ambition and desire to remain in the top job.

A Treasury spokesman described the suggestion that Mr Brown could join the IMF as “speculation”, but stopped short of ruling it out saying it would be “far too premature” to comment.