What if Tony Blair resigned as prime Minister after his heart attack scare in October 2003, or had resigned around that time in 2004? Maybe if the heart attack doesn't work the Hartlepool by-election is won by the LibDems and that could force Blair out? I think @PresidentGore did a TL on this idea. Gordon Brown would become Labour leader and Prime Minister with relative ease. What would be the effects? Brown would probably win an election either in 2004 or 2005, likely with a bigger majority than Blair without Iraq around his neck. How would the UK Labour Party be effected? Would New Labour survive longer? Reading Brown At 10, the authors claim Brown would have been more successful and less damaged if he'd come to power in 2004. What would be the effects on his premiership? How would Brown do with longer in power and his own mandate? How would UK politics be effected? What other effects would result from this change? What if?