Don't you think there may be an element of the School Bully is leaving the field early so that the new Bully can get himself set whilst still enjoying the protection of the outgoing Gang Leader.
Frankly No! I believe the essence of a bully is to think of his own welfare first, second and last.
The only reason he is going is because he would be pushed out if he stayed. And the 'legacy' is everything to him, if Gordon manages to full off a 'kiss me quick' stunt to cement his position, Tony will quickly claim it as a ready set up deal, if he doesn't, he'll be a failure from the start like John Major was. He never had a chance!
I am certain Tony is waiting for the gravy train to pass by so he can step gracefully on it to better things like it was intended by fate (or god) for him all along.
Tony has made Gordon wait the full term and then some, to honour his promise and - in my view - the timing will give him just enough time to become universally hated as the elections come around.
Then it will be Gordon that killed off Labour just as Major did for the Tories. patsy is the expression I believe. That will leave the teflon Tony man the hero for posterity (er... Sorry. Of course, I meant to say Lord Teflon) and Gordo just the villain that broke it all, No wonder he has a problem with his mouth, it's all the swallowed curses over the years that did it.
I don't like Brown. Never have, probably never will, but I will be very interested to see how he deals with the betrayal once his hands are untied. Who'll suffer, Tony (Lord Teflon) - or us? My money's on us.