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| {{For|others with the same or similar names|Gordon Brown (disambiguation)}} | |||
| {{Infobox Prime Minister | |||
| | honorific-prefix = ] | |||
| | name = Gordon Brown | |||
| | honorific-suffix = ] | |||
| | image = Gordon Brown 2005 IMF close.jpg | |||
| | imagesize = 200px | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | order = ] | |||
| | term_start = ] ] | |||
| | term_end = <!-- Don't fill in this field --> | |||
| | monarch = ] | |||
| | predecessor = ] | |||
| | successor = Incumbent | |||
| | order2 = ] | |||
| | term_start2 = ] ] | |||
| | term_end2 = ] ] | |||
| | primeminister2 = ] | |||
| | predecessor2 = ] | |||
| | successor2 = ] | |||
| | constituency_MP3 = ]<br> <small>] (1983-2005)</small> | |||
| | term_start3 = ] ] | |||
| | term_end3 = <!-- Don't fill in this field --> | |||
| | majority3 = 18,216 (43.6%) | |||
| | predecessor3 = ''New Constituency'' | |||
| | successor3 = ] | |||
| | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|2|20|df=yes}} | |||
| | birth_place = ], ], ] | |||
| | death_date = | |||
| | death_place = | |||
| | nationality = ] | |||
| | party = ] | |||
| | spouse = ] | |||
| | relations = | |||
| | children = ] | |||
| | residence = Official: ]<br>Private: ]<ref>, '']'', 14 August 2007</ref> | |||
| | alma_mater = ] | |||
| | occupation = Politician | |||
| | profession = Lecturer and journalist | |||
| | religion = ] | |||
| | signature = Gordon Brown's signature.svg | |||
| | website = | |||
| | footnotes = | |||
| }} | |||
| <!--NOTE: please do not add the title "Dr." to his name: see ]-->'''James Gordon Brown''' (born ] ]) is the current ]. He took office on ] ], three days after becoming leader of the ]. Prior to this he served as the ] in ] ] from 1997 to 2007, becoming the United Kingdom's longest serving Chancellor. He also holds the positions of ], the ] and has a ] in ]<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4347369.stm</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3809861.stm</ref> which he gained from the ].. | |||
| He has been a ] of ], for ] and then ], since 1983.<ref name="npm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6245682.stm Brown is UK's new prime minister], BBC News, 27 June 2007</ref> | |||
| == Early life and career before parliament == | |||
| Gordon Brown was born in <!--EDITORS note, although his parents lived in Giffnock at the time, GB was actually born in Glasgow--> ], in ], ],<ref>{{cite news|title = From education to politics: always top of the class|publisher = ]|date = ]|accessdate = 2007-07-06|url = http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/06/27/newsstory9913379t0.asp }}</ref><ref>, Kirkcaldy Civic Society</ref> although media<ref>{{cite news|title = Family detective|publisher = ]|date = ]|accessdate = 2007-07-06|url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/04/28/nosplit/ftfamdet128.xml }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = What can we expect from a Brown premiership?|publisher = ]|date = ]|accessdate = 2007-07-06|url = http://www.itv.com/news/aa672bbdda96b7b668b9649e160ac5ba.html}}</ref> have occasionally given his place of birth as ], ], where his parents were living at the time. | |||
| His father, John Ebenezer Brown, was a ] of the ]. He was a strong influence on Brown and died in 1998, aged 84. His mother Elizabeth, known as Bunty, died in 2004 aged 86. Gordon was brought up with his brothers John and Andrew Brown in a ] in ] — the largest town in ], ] across the ] from ]. In common with many other ], he is therefore often referred to as a "son of the manse". Brown was educated first at Kirkcaldy West Primary School where he was selected for an experimental ] education programme, which took him two years early to ] for an academic hothouse education taught in separate classes. At age 16 he wrote that he loathed and resented this "ludicrous" experiment on young lives.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1811255.ece|title=‘Cruel’ experiment that left its mark on a very precocious boy|author=Ben Macintyre|publisher=]|date=May 19, 2007|accessdate=2007-07-13}}</ref> | |||
| He was accepted by the ] to study history at the age of only 16. He suffered a ] after being kicked in the head during an end-of-term ] match at his old school. He was left ] in his left eye, despite treatment including several operations and lying in a darkened room for weeks at a time. He has since been fitted with an artificial eye.<ref>{{cite news|title=I got a letter from the Chancellor Gordon Brown|publisher=]|date=]|accessdate=2007-07-09|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4410000/newsid_4417600/4417641.stm }}</ref> | |||
| Later at Edinburgh, while playing ], he noticed the same symptoms in his right eye. Brown underwent experimental surgery at ] and his eye was saved.<ref>, ], ] ]</ref> | |||
| Brown graduated from Edinburgh with ] ] in 1972, and stayed on to complete his ] (which he gained in 1982), titled ''The Labour Party and Political Change in Scotland 1918-29''. According to biographer ], Brown originally intended his ] to cover the development of the ] from the ] onwards, but evolved to more modestly describe "Labour's struggle to establish itself as the alternative to the ] ". | |||
| In 1972, while still a student, Brown was elected ]<ref> ] News ] ]</ref> of the University of Edinburgh, the convener of the ]. Brown served as Rector until 1975, and he also edited ''The Red Paper on Scotland''.<ref> Red Paper on Scotland website.</ref> Brown served as a temporary lecturer at Edinburgh, but was denied a permanent post due to his political activism.<ref> John Newsinger ] 115 (summer 2007)</ref> Instead he gained employment as a lecturer in ] at ] from 1976 to 1980. He then worked as a journalist at ], later serving as current affairs editor until his election to parliament in 1983. | |||
| In the ], Brown stood for the ] constituency, but lost to the ] candidate, ]. | |||
| == Election to parliament and opposition == | |||
| Brown was elected to Parliament on his second attempt as a Labour MP for ] in ] and became ] spokesman on Trade and Industry in 1985. In 1986, he published a ] of the ] politician ], the subject of his ] thesis. Brown was ] ] from 1987 to 1989 and then Shadow ], before becoming Shadow Chancellor in 1992. | |||
| After the sudden death of Labour leader ] in May 1994, Brown was tipped as a potential party leader,<ref>{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Webster |authorlink= |title=Friends Blair and Brown face a difficult decision; Death of John Smith |url= http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=SPN.SP00&docId=CJ115719842&source=gale&srcprod=SP00&userGroupName=jrycal5&version=1.0 |work= ] |date=] |accessdate=2007-03-26 |quote=As probably the two most powerful figures in the party, they have the agonising task of deciding whether they should at last become rivals and vie for the crown, or whether one should stand aside for the other to become the centre candidate to succeed Mr Smith.}}{{dead link|date=July 2007}}</ref> but did not contest the leadership after ] became favourite. It has long been rumoured a deal was struck between Blair and Brown at the ] in ],<ref> http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,971644,00.html</ref> in which Blair promised to give Brown control of economic policy in return for Brown not standing against him in the ].<ref> </ref> Whether this is true or not, the relationship between Blair and Brown has been central to the fortunes of "]", and they have mostly remained united in public, despite reported serious private rifts.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6506365.stm</ref> | |||
| As Shadow Chancellor, Brown worked to present himself as a fiscally competent Chancellor-in-waiting, to reassure business and the middle class that Labour could be trusted to run the economy without fuelling ], increasing unemployment, or overspending – legacies of the 1970s. He publicly committed Labour to following the Conservatives' spending plans for the first two years after taking power.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Short | first = Claire | authorlink = Clare Short | date = ] | title = On the edge of a volcano | journal = ] | url = http://www.newstatesman.com/200310270043 | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/lab97.htm |title=Labour Party Manifesto, General Election 1997 |accessdate=2007-03-30 }}</ref> | |||
| Following a reorganisation of ] in ], Brown became MP for ] at the ].<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Brown as Chancellor of the Exchequer== | |||
| ]/] meeting in 2002]] | |||
| :''See also ] | |||
| Brown's 10 years and 2 months as ] set several records. He was the longest-serving Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer ever, and the longest continuous serving Chancellor of the Exchequer since ], Chancellor from 1812 to 1823. However, ] was Chancellor for a total of 12 years and 4 months in four distinct terms between 1852 and 1882. | |||
| The Prime Minister's website singles out three achievements in particular from Brown's decade as Chancellor: presiding over "the longest ever period of growth", making the Bank of England independent and delivering an agreement on poverty and climate change at the ] summit in 2005.<ref>http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page12037.asp</ref> | |||
| === Acts as Chancellor === | |||
| * '''Bank of England independence''' On taking office as ], Brown gave the ] operational independence in ], and thus responsibility for setting ]s. | |||
| * '''Tax''' In the 1997 election and subsequently, Brown pledged to not increase the basic or higher rates of ]. Over his Chancellorship, he reduced the starting rate from 20% to 10% in 1999 before abolishing the starting rate in 2007, and reduced the basic rate from 23% to 20%. However, in all but his final budget, Brown increased the tax thresholds in line with inflation, rather than earnings, resulting in ]. ] fell under Brown, from a main rate of 33% to 28%, and from 24% to 19% for ]es.<ref name=AdamBrowne>Adam, S. and J. Browne: {{PDFlink||2.74 ]<!-- application/pdf, 2883126 bytes -->}} (), ], ] No. 9, March 2006</ref> | |||
| * '''Spending''' Once the two-year period of following the Conservatives' spending plans was over, Brown's 2000 Spending Review outlined a major expansion of ], particularly on health and education. In his April 2002 budget, Brown raised ] to pay for health spending. Brown changed ] in other ways, such as the ]s. | |||
| * '''Growth''' An OECD report<ref></ref> shows UK ] averaged 2.7% between 1997 and 2006, higher than the Eurozone's 2.1%, though lower than in any other ] country. UK unemployment is 5.5%,<ref></ref> down from 7% in 1997 and lower than the Eurozone's average of 8.1%. | |||
| * '''Euro''' In October 1997, Brown took control of the United Kingdom's membership of the European single currency issue by announcing the Treasury would set five economic tests<ref> '']'' ] ]</ref> to ascertain whether the economic case had been made. In June 2003 ] indicated the tests had not been passed.<ref> BBC, ] ]</ref> | |||
| ] in 2006]] | |||
| * '''Gold sales''' Between 1999 and 2002 Brown sold 60% of the UK's ] at $275 an ounce.<ref></ref> It was later attacked as a "disastrous foray into international asset management"<ref> Scotsman.com website ] ]extrac</ref> as he had sold at close to a 20-year low. He pressured the IMF to do the same,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taxfreegold.co.uk/gordonbrownimfgoldrevaluationg7goldsales.html |title=Gordon Brown & IMF Gold Sales |accessdate=2007-03-30 |work=Tax Free Gold }}</ref> but it resisted. | |||
| * '''Spectrum auctions''' Under Brown, ] ] ]s gathered £22.5 billion for the government. By using a system of sealed bids and only selling a restricted number of licences, they extracted high prices from the telecom operators.<ref> http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,178157,00.html</ref> ] at this time applied a similar auction, and these together caused a severe ] in the European telecoms development industry (2001 ]) with the loss of 100,000 jobs across Europe, 30,000 of those in the UK.<ref>Spectrum pricings uncertain future, Electonics World, Vol 108. September pp.24-25</ref> | |||
| * '''Debt relief and development''' Brown believes it is appropriate to remove much of the unpayable ] but does not think all debt should be wiped out.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/369846.stm</ref> On ] ], in a speech to the ] Ambassadors, Brown outlined a "]" view of global development. | |||
| === Analysis of policies as Chancellor === | |||
| * '''Growth''' Brown states that his Chancellorship had seen the longest period of sustained economic growth in the ].<ref>Andrew Ellson, </ref><ref> http://society.guardian.co.uk/publicfinances/story/0,,1439789,00.html</ref> The details in Brown's growth figures have been challenged.<ref> http://money.independent.co.uk/personal_finance/tax/article6625.ece </ref><ref> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/issues/4423887.stm</ref> | |||
| * '''Anti-Poverty''' The ] found that the poorest fifth of households, which accounted for 6.8% of all taxes in 1996-7, accounted for 6.9% of all taxes paid in 2004-5. Meanwhile, their share of state benefit payouts dropped from 28.1% to 27.1% over the same period.<ref>, ''The Times'' ] ].</ref> | |||
| * '''Tax''' According to the ] UK taxation has increased from a 39.3% share of ] in 1997 to 42.4% in 2006, going to a higher level than Germany.<ref>OECD: (] table)</ref> This increase has mainly been attributed to active government policy, and not simply to the growing economy. | |||
| * '''Pensions''' The Conservatives have accused Brown of imposing "]es". A commonly reported example resulted in 1997 from a technical change in the way ] is collected, the indirect effect of which was for the ]s on ] investments held within ]s to be taxed, thus lowering pension returns and contributing to the demise of some pension funds.<ref> , ''The Daily Telegraph'' ] ]</ref> The Treasury contend that this tax change was crucial to long-term economic growth. | |||
| === Other policy stances as Chancellor === | |||
| * '''Higher education''' In 2000, Brown started a political row about ] (referred to as the ]) when he accused the ] of ] in its admissions procedures, describing its decision not to offer a place to ] pupil Laura Spence as "absolutely outrageous".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/759114.stm| title = Oxford 'reject' wins Harvard scholarship| accessdate = 2007-03-30| date = ]| work = BBC News| publisher = ]}}</ref> ], then Oxford ], said "nearly every fact he used was false."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/792021.stm| title = Peers condemn Oxford attack| accessdate = 2007-03-30| date = ]| work = BBC News| publisher = ]}}</ref> | |||
| * '''Anti-racism and popular culture''' During a diplomatic visit to ] in January 2007, Brown responded to questions concerning perceived ] and ] against ] actress ] on the British ] show ] saying, "There is a lot of support for Shilpa. It is pretty clear we are getting the message across. Britain is a nation of tolerance and fairness."<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011900301.html | title = Brown throws weight behind Indian star | date= January 19, 2007 | accessdate =2007-07-25}}</ref> He later said the debate showed Britain wanted to be "defined by being a tolerant, fair and decent country."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2022670,00.html| title = Full text of Gordon Brown's speech| accessdate = 2007-03-30| date = ]| work = Guardian Unlimited| publisher = Guardian News and Media Limited }}</ref> | |||
| == Run up to succeeding Blair == | |||
| :''Main articles ] and ] | |||
| In October 2004 ] announced he would not lead the party into a fourth ], but would serve a full third term. Political controversy over the relationship between Brown and Blair continued up to and beyond the ], which Labour won with a reduced parliamentary majority and reduced vote share. The two campaigned together but the British media remained – and remain – full of reports on their mutual acrimony. | |||
| Blair, under pressure from within his own party, announced on ] ] that he would step down within a year.<ref>{{cite news | first = Alan | last = Cowell | authorlink = Alan Cowell | title = Blair to Give Up Post as Premier Within One Year | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/world/europe/08blair.html?ex=1315368000&en=5e7bcfe77c01e050&ei=5088 |date = ] | work = ] | publisher = ] | accessdate = 2007-07-10 }}</ref> Brown was the clear favourite to succeed Blair for several years with experts and the bookmakers; he was the only ] spoken of seriously in Westminster. Appearances and news coverage leading up to the handover were interpreted as preparing the ground for Brown to become ], in part by creating the impression of a statesman with a vision for leadership and ]. | |||
| Brown is the first prime minister from a Scottish constituency since the ]/] ] in 1964. He is also one of only four Prime Ministers who attended a university other than ] or ], along with ] (]), ] (]) and ] (], later ]).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4197440 | title = Are you Statistically Prepared to Become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? | accessdate=2007-03-30 | date = ] | work = BBC - h2g2 | publisher = ] }}</ref> Many Prime Ministers were not university-educated at all, including the ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
| On ] ] ] said in an interview that the Chancellor had "psychological" issues he must confront and accused him of being a "]" and "totally uncollegiate". Brown was also "deluded", Clarke said, to think Blair can and should anoint him as his successor now.<ref>{{cite news | first = Rachel | last = Sylvester | coauthors = Alice Thomson and Toby Helm | title = Clarke attack on Brown 'the deluded control freak' | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/09/nclarke09.xml | work = ] | publisher = Telegraph Media Group Limited | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> | |||
| By the start of 2007, prospects of any significant current or former Cabinet-level contender to Brown receded significantly, and Brown's odds with major bookmakers became as short as 1/10 on. A number of those tipped as potential rivals ruled themselves out – notably Education Secretary ], who declared he would contest the deputy leadership, and Environment Secretary ], who stressed his support for Brown<ref> | |||
| {{cite news | first = Martin | last = Bright | title = It must be Gordon, Gordon, Gordon | url = http://www.newstickman.com/200609110013 | work = ] | publisher = New Stickman | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> to close down speculation of a possible challenge. Despite his disavowals, attempts to draft Miliband to run continued, with the launch of a website by former Ministers Alan Milburn and Charles Clarke, ostensibly to debate policy, but widely viewed as an attempt to test the water. However, this widely-covered initiative was also seen as a sign of weakness as the project appeared to have no credible champion to carry the banner in a leadership contest. Only candidates from the left of the party, ] and former Environment minister ] declared their willingness to contest the election; each needed to gain 44 nominations from Labour MPs required to be successfully nominated. Either would have been rank outsiders in a contest. With growing realisation both could not be nominated and that both standing was likely to lead to neither being nominated, they agreed they would compare nominations when Blair stepped down and the candidate with the lower number of nominations would withdraw and urge his supporters to nominate the other. | |||
| From January 2007 the media reported Brown had now "dropped any pretence of not wanting, or expecting, to move into Number 10 in the next few months" – although he and his family will likely use the more spacious ].<ref>{{cite news | first = Ned | last = Temko | title = Brown invokes JFK as No 10 beckons | url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1990065,00.html | work = ] | publisher = Guardian News and Media Limited | page = | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> This enabled Brown to signal the most significant priorities for his agenda as Prime Minister - stressing education, international development, narrowing inequalities (to pursue 'equality of opportunity and fairness of outcome'), renewing Britishness, restoring trust in politics, and winning hearts and minds in the war on terror as key priorities - speaking at a ] conference on 'The Next Decade' in January 2007.<ref>{{cite press release |title = Make education our national mission |publisher = ] | date = ] |url= http://fabians.org.uk/events/new-year-conference-07/brown-next-decade/speech |accessdate= 2007-07-10}}</ref> | |||
| In March 2007 Brown's character was attacked by ] who worked for Brown as ] at the Treasury from 1998 to 2002. Turnbull accused Brown of running the Treasury with "Stalinist ruthlessness" and treating Cabinet colleagues with "more or less complete contempt".<ref>{{cite news | first = Philippe | last = Naughton | title = Brown hit by 'Stalinist' attack on Budget eve | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1542111.ece | work = The Times | publisher = Times Newspapers Limited | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> This was especially picked-up on by the British media as the comments were made on the eve of Brown's budget report. | |||
| ===Bid for Labour Leadership=== | |||
| In his resignation speech on ] ], Tony Blair stated he would stand down as Prime Minister on ].<ref>{{cite news | title = Blair to stand down on June 27 | url = http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labourleadership/story/0,,2076434,00.html | work = The Guardian | date = ] }}</ref> After years of speculation, Gordon Brown formally announced on ] his bid for the Labour leadership. Brown launched his campaign website the same day as formally announcing his bid for leadership "Gordon Brown for Britain". On 16th, the Wednesday following this announcement it became clear no other candidate would gain enough nominations to get on the ballot paper with Brown. On Channel 4 news on ] ] it was announced ] had nominated Brown giving him 308 nominations, sufficient to avoid a leadership contest. He formally became Leader of the Labour party at a special Party Conference held in Manchester on ]. | |||
| ==Brown as Prime Minister== | |||
| :''See also ] | |||
| Brown ceased to be Chancellor and, upon the approval of HM Queen Elizabeth II, became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on ] ]. Like all Prime Ministers, Brown concurrently serves as the ] and the ], is a member of the ] and, hence, also a ]. He is also ] and Member of Parliament for the constituency of ]. | |||
| ===Policies=== | |||
| Brown has been careful not to suggest that there will be any U-turns in the key areas of Blair's social policy, or any radical breakaway from ]. He has, however, proposed moving some traditional prime ministerial powers conferred by ] to the realm of Parliament, such as the power to declare war and approve appointments to senior positions. Brown wants Parliament to gain the right to ratify treaties and have more oversight into the intelligence services. He has also proposed moving some powers from Parliament to citizens, including the right to form "citizen's juries", easily petition Parliament for new laws, and rally outside Westminster. He has asserted that the attorney general should not have the right to decide whether to prosecute in individual cases, such as in the ] scandal.<ref>{{cite news | title = The king is dead | url = http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441642 | work = ''The Economist'' | date = ] }}</ref> | |||
| During his Labour leadership campaign, Brown proposed some policy initiatives, suggesting that a Brown-led government would introduce the following:<ref>{{cite news | title = Gordon’s manifesto for change | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1782142.ece | work = ''The Times'' | date = ] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Poll surge as Brown unveils policy blitz | url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2078595,00.html | work = ''The Observer'' | date = ] }}</ref> | |||
| * '''End to corruption''' Following the ] scandal, Brown emphasised cracking down on corruption. This has led to a belief that Brown will introduce a new ministerial code which sets out clear standards of behaviour for ministers. | |||
| * '''Constitutional reform''' Brown has not stated whether he proposes a U.S.-style written constitution – something the UK has never had – or a looser bill of rights. He said in a speech when announcing his bid that he wants a “better constitution” that is “clear about the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in Britain today”. He plans to set up an all-party convention to look at new powers for Parliament . This convention may also look at rebalancing powers between ] and local government. Brown has said he will give Parliament the final say on whether British troops are sent into action in future. | |||
| * '''Housing''' House planning restrictions are likely to be relaxed. Brown said he wants to release more land and ease access to ownership with shared equity schemes. He backed a proposal to build five new eco-towns, each housing between 10,000 and 20,000 homeowners — up to 100,000 new homes in total. | |||
| * '''Health''' Brown intends to have doctors' surgeries open at the weekends, and GPs on call in the evenings. Doctors were given the right of opting out of out-of-hours care two years ago, under a controversial pay deal, signed by then-Health Secretary ], which awarded them a 22% pay rise in 2006. Brown stated that the NHS was his "last priority", yet he had just cut the capital budget of the English NHS from £6.2bn to £4.2bn.<ref>{{cite news | title = Brown cut budget for English hospitals | url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/f7a994d0-2677-11dc-8e18-000b5df10621.html| work = The Times | date = ] }}</ref> | |||
| === Foreign policy === | |||
| ], ] in 2005]] | |||
| Brown remains committed to the ], but said in a speech in May 2007 that he would "learn the lessons" from the mistakes made in Iraq. | |||
| ====Diplomatic relationship with the U.S.==== | |||
| There has been widespread speculation on the nature of the UK's relationship with the ] under Brown's government. A ] speech by Brown's close aide ] was widely reported as both a policy shift and a message to the U.S.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=The subtle shift in British foreign policy | date= | publisher= | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6897313.stm | work =] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-14 | language = }}</ref>: "In the 21st century, strength should be measured on what we can build together ... we need to demonstrate by our deeds, words and our actions that we are ], not ], ], not ], active and not passive, and driven by core values, consistently applied, not special interests." | |||
| ] | |||
| However Downing Street's spokesman strongly denied the suggestion that Alexander was trying to distance Britain from ] and show that Britain would not necessarily, in ]'s words, stand "shoulder to shoulder" with ] over future ]s<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Brown flies out to meet Merkel and will see Bush later | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,2126133,00.html | work =] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-14 | language = }}</ref>: "I thought the interpretation that was put on ]'s words was quite extraordinary. To interpret this as saying anything at all about ] is nonsense." | |||
| Brown personally clarified his position;<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Speech not critical of US - Brown | date= | publisher= | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6896797.stm | work =] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-14 | language = }}</ref> "We will not allow people to separate us from the United States of America in dealing with the common challenges that we face around the world. I think people have got to remember that the ] and between a ] and an ] is built on the things that we share, the same enduring values about the importance of ], opportunity, the dignity of the individual. I will continue to work, as Tony Blair did, very closely with the ]." | |||
| ==Married life and family== | |||
| As a younger man, Brown's girlfriends included the journalist ], Marion Calder<ref> '''BBC News'''</ref> and ], the eldest daughter of exiled ]. She has said about their relationship: "It was a very solid and romantic story. I never stopped loving him but one day it didn't seem right any more, it was politics, politics, politics, and I needed nurturing."<ref> , ], March 6, 2001</ref> | |||
| Brown married ] in a private ceremony at his home in ], Fife, on ] ] after a four-year courtship. She is a public relations executive and was, until 2001, Chief Executive of ], the consultancy firm she owned with Julia Hobsbawm (daughter of ] historian ]). They met when her company was advising the Labour-supporting '']'' magazine in 1994 and the relationship blossomed alongside Labour's electoral success. On ] ], a daughter, Jennifer Jane, was born prematurely and died on ] ]. Gordon Brown commented at the time that their recent experiences had changed him and his wife: | |||
| :"I don't think we'll be the same again, but it has made us think of what's important. It has made us think that you've got to use your time properly. It's made us more determined. Things that we feel are right we have got to achieve, we have got to do that. Jennifer is an inspiration to us."<ref> , The Telegraph ] ] Accessed ] ]</ref> | |||
| Their second child, John, was born on ] ]. Their third child, a son, James Fraser, was born on ] ]; it was reported on ] ] that he was diagnosed with ]. | |||
| Sarah Brown, unlike ], rarely appears at public events with her husband and until recently even missed his Budget speeches. She intends to remain out of the limelight as much as possible but accepts that her life will change when she moves into 10 Downing Street. She has never given a magazine or television interview and even inundated with requests now, she is unlikely to do so.<ref> , The Telegraph, ] ] Accessed ] ]</ref> | |||
| Gordon Brown has never had a driving licence.<ref> The Association of British Drivers</ref> His recreations include football, reading, tennis and writing. | |||
| Of his two brothers, John Brown is Head of Public Relations in the ] City Council. His brother Andrew Brown is currently Head of Media for the French-owned utility company ] since 2004. He was previously director of media strategy at the world's largest ] firm ] from June 2003 to 2004. Previously he was editor of the ] political programme ''Powerhouse'' from 1996 to 2003, and worked at the ] from the late 1970s to early 1980s.<ref> , ], ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==Honours== | |||
| Brown received ]s from the University of Edinburgh in 2003 and ] in 2007 (DCL). He received an Honorary Doctorate alongside ] from ] in 2006 | |||
| == Views on Israel == | |||
| In a speech given to the ] in April 2007, Brown stated: | |||
| : "Many of you know my interest in ] and in the ]ish community has been long-standing... My father was the chairman of the ]'s Israel Committee. Not only as I've described to some of you before did he make visits on almost two occasions a year for 20 years to Israel – but because of that, although ], where I grew up, was a long way from Israel with no TV pictures to link us together – I had a very clear view from household slides and projectors about the history of Israel, about the trials and tribulations of the Jewish people, about the enormous suffering and loss during the ], as well as the extraordinary struggle that he described to me of people to create this magnificent homeland."<ref>Jonny Paul: , ], ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==Controversies== | |||
| Gordon Brown has been criticised for ], after the ] admitted he had not kept his promise to switch to a more ] ministerial car.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Brown accused of going back on green pledge | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/08/ubrowncar108.xml | work =] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-18 | language = }}</ref> Brown's aides briefed the media that he was preparing to exchange his existing car for a ], a ] with relative high ]. Brown has instead chosen a 4.2 litre ] V8 which falls into the government's worst ] band.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Shoppers ‘green’ Gordon Brown’s Jag | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.newconsumer.com/news/item/shoppers_green_gordon_browns_jaguar/ | work =] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-18 | language = }}</ref> | |||
| Some controversy was also raised by the link between Brown's brother Andrew and one of the main nuclear lobbyists EDF<ref> , Terry Macalister | |||
| ], ], '']''</ref> given the finding that the government did not carry a proper public consultation on the use of ] in its 2006 Energy Review.<ref>, ], ],]</ref> Attention has also been drawn to the fact<ref>, Analysis, Brian Wheeler, ], ], ]</ref> that the ] of Brown's closest advisor ], Tony Cooper (father of the Labour minister ]) has close links with the nuclear industry. Cooper was described as an "''articulate, persuasive and well-informed advocate of nuclear power over the last ten years''" by the Nuclear Industry Association on his appointment as Chairman of the British Nuclear Industry Forum in June 2002. He is also a member of the ] and was appointed to the Energy Advisory Panel by the previous Conservative administration.<ref> , ] ], Nuclear Industry Association</ref> | |||
| == Depictions of Brown in popular culture == | |||
| *Brown was played by ] in the ] directed ] '']'' and by ] in the TV movie '']''. | |||
| *'']'' features a comic strip ''The Broonites'' (a parody of '']'') parodying Gordon Brown. | |||
| * British Radio presenter ] plays a sound effect of ] because of the way Gordon Brown's jaw appears to detach as he breathes in. | |||
| *The ] song "You're the Reason I'm Leaving" (from '']'') is believed to be at least partially about the end of the Blair-Brown rivalry, as told from Blair's perspective. The song contains the lyric: I'd no idea that in four years I'd be hanging from a beam behind the door of ], singing "fare thee well, I am leaving, yes I leave it all to you."Despite his gruff demeanour, Grodon Brown is a gentle creature who exists on a diet of twigs and berries. He can often be photographed in the early hours outside Parliament shouting at bins and passing tourists.[ | |||
| *Brown features as a character in the 2007 Musical '']'', written by ] and Ian McCluskey. During its run in ], he was played by Bush, and then by Michael Slater at the 2007 ] and subsequently at the Pleasance Theatre in ], ]. | |||
| == See also == | |||
| '''Labour politics:''' | |||
| * ] | |||
| '''Electoral history:''' | |||
| * UK general elections: ], ], ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| '''Current administration:''' | |||
| * ] | |||
| '''Brown as Chancellor''' | |||
| *] | |||
| == Notes == | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| == References == | |||
| === Works === | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= ] |year= 2007 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-1-8459-6307-1 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Courage: Eight Portraits |year= 2007 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-0-7475-6532-1 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= Wilf Stevenson |title= Speeches 1997-2006 |year= 2006 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-0-7475-8837-5 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon (ed.) |authorlink= |coauthors= Wright, Tony (ed.) |title= Values, Visions and Voices: An Anthology of Socialism |year= 1995 |publisher= Mainstream Publishing |location= |isbn= 978-1-85158-731-5 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Where There's Greed: Margaret Thatcher and the Betrayal of Britain's Future |year= 1989 |publisher= Mainstream Publishing |location= |isbn= 978-1-85158-228-0 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon (ed.) |authorlink= |coauthors= Cook, Robin (ed.) |title= Scotland: The Real Divide|year= 1987 |publisher= Mainstream Publishing |location= |isbn= 978-0-906391-18-1 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Maxton: A Biography |year= 1986 |publisher= Mainstream Publishing |location= |isbn= 978-1-85158-042-2 }} | |||
| === Biographies === | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Bower |first= Tom |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Gordon Brown |year= 2003 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-0-00-717540-6 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Jefferys |first= Kevin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Labour forces from Ernie Bevin to Gordon Brown |year= 2002 |publisher= IB Taurus Publishing |location= |isbn= 978-1-4175-1633-9 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Keegan |first= William |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Prudence of Mr. Gordon Brown |year= 2003 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-0-470-84697-1 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Rosen |first= Greg (ed.) |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Dictionary of Labour Biography |year= 2002 |publisher= Methuen |location= |isbn= 978-1-902301-18-1 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Naughtie |first= James |authorlink= James Naughtie |coauthors= |title= The Rivals: The Intimate Story of a Political Marriage |year= 2001 |publisher= Fourth Estate |location= |isbn= 978-1-84115-473-2 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Peston |first= Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Brown's Britain: How Gordon Runs the Show |year= 2005 |publisher= Short Books |location= |isbn= 978-1-904095-67-5 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Routledge |first= Paul |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Gordon Brown: The Biography |year= 1998 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-0-684-81954-9 }} | |||
| === Others === | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Hugh |first= Pym |authorlink= |coauthors= Kochan, Nick |title= Gordon Brown the First Year in Power |year= 1998 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-0-7475-3701-4 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Rawnsley |first= Andrew |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Servants of the people:The inside story of New Labour |year= 2001 |publisher= ] |location= |isbn= 978-0-14-027850-7 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Rosen |first= Greg |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Old Labour to New:The Dreams that Inspired, the Battles that Divided |year= 2005 |publisher= Politicos Publishing |location= |isbn= 978-1-84275-045-2 }} | |||
| * {{cite book |last= Routledge |first= Paul |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Bumper Book of British Lefties |year= 2003 |publisher= Politicos Publishing |location= |isbn= 978-1-84275-064-3 }} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{wikisource author}} | |||
| {{Wikiquote}} | |||
| {{Commons}} | |||
| * | |||
| * {{YouTube|2LJKVK_CqxE|Gordon Brown's First Speech as Prime Minister}} | |||
| * 24 June 2007 | |||
| * in ] | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * January 2005 trip about his 'Marshall plan for Africa' | |||
| * {{dmoz |Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/Scotland/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Parties/Labour/MPs/Brown,_Gordon/ }} | |||
| * - Satirical blog covering Brown's activities | |||
| * | |||
| * Extracts from his introduction to 'The Red Paper on Scotland' (1975) | |||
| * Triple A accessible version | |||
| * ]: , '']'' – gives a left wing perspective on Gordon Brown's political evolution | |||
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Revision as of 19:59, 6 September 2007
a bit of a twat