Gordon Brown: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Prime Minister |
{{Infobox Prime Minister |
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| honorific-prefix = <small>[[The Right Honourable]]</small><br> |
| honorific-prefix = <small>[[The Right Honourable]]</small><br> |
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| name = |
| name = im a fucked up gay boy! |
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| honorific-suffix = <br><small>[[Member of Parliament|MP]]</small> |
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| image = GordonBrown2004.JPG |
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| imagesize = 200px |
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| order = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] |
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| monarch = [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] |
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| deputy = [[Harriet Harman]] <small>(Acting)</small> |
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| term_start = [[27 June]] [[2007]] |
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| term_end = |
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| predecessor = [[Tony Blair]] |
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| successor = |
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| order2 = [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] |
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| term_start2 = [[2 May]] [[1997]] |
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| term_end2 = [[27 June]] [[2007]] |
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| primeminister2 = [[Tony Blair]] |
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| predecessor2 = [[Kenneth Clarke]] |
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| successor2 = [[Alistair Darling]] |
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| constituency_MP3 = [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (UK Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]]<br><small>[[Dunfermline East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dunfermline East]] (1983 – 2005)</small> |
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| term_start3 = [[9 June]] [[1983]] |
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| term_end3 = |
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| majority3 = 18,216 (43.6%) |
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| predecessor3 = New constituency |
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| successor3 = |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|02|20|df=y}} |
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| birth_place = [[Govan]], [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]] |
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| death_date = |
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| death_place = |
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| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]] |
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| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] |
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| spouse = [[Sarah Brown (spouse)|Sarah Brown]] |
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| relations = |
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| children = [[Sarah Brown (Prime Minister's wife)|Jennifer Jane (deceased), John Macaulay and James Fraser]] |
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| residence = [[10 Downing Street]] <small>(official)</small><br />[[North Queensferry]] <small>(private)</small><ref> {{cite news |first=Catherine |last=MacLeod |title=Brown to work from home |url=http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.1615320.0.0.php |format= |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |publisher=[[Newsquest]] |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=2007-08-14 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> |
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| alma_mater = [[University of Edinburgh]] |
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| occupation = [[Politician]] |
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| profession = [[Academic]]<br>[[Journalist]] |
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| religion = [[Church of Scotland]] |
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| signature = |
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| website = |
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| footnotes = |
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}} |
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<!--NOTE: please do not add the title "Dr" to his name: see [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style (biographies)#Academic titles]]-->'''James Gordon Brown''' (born [[20 February]] [[1951]]) is the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]]. He took office on [[27 June]] [[2007]], three days after becoming leader of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. Prior to this he served as the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] under [[Tony Blair]] from 1997 to 2007, becoming the [[United Kingdom]]'s longest serving Chancellor since [[Nicholas Vansittart]] in the early 19th century. He has a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in [[history]] from the [[University of Edinburgh]],<ref>{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4347369.stm | title= Brown seeks out 'British values' | author= Kearney, Martha | date= [[14 March]] [[2005]] | accessdate= 2008-01-23 | work= BBC News | publisher= [[BBC]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3809861.stm | title= Gordon Brown timeline | date= [[15 June]] [[2004]] | accessdate= 2008-01-23 | work= BBC News | publisher= [[BBC]] }}</ref> and, as Prime Minister, he also holds the positions of [[First Lord of the Treasury]] and the [[Minister for the Civil Service]]. |
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He has been a [[Member of Parliament]] since 1983; firstly for [[Dunfermline East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dunfermline East]] and since [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005]] for [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (UK Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]].<ref name="npm">{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6245682.stm | title= Brown is UK's new prime minister | date= [[27 June]] [[2007]] | accessdate= 2008-01-23 | work= BBC News | publisher= [[BBC]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/712.stm | title= Gordon Brown | date= [[19 November]] [[2007]] | accessdate= 2008-01-23 | work= BBC News | publisher= [[BBC]] }}</ref> |
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HAHAHA IM SO WIERD, MY NAME IS DALE MURPHY AND I THINK URRRRRRRR A GGAAAAAAAAAAAAAY BOOOOOOOOOOOOI PLZ BLOCK ME U FUCKED UP GAY |
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== Early life and career before parliament == |
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Gordon Brown was born in [[Govan]], [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]],<ref>{{cite news|title = From education to politics: always top of the class|work = [[The Dundee Courier]]|date = [[2007-06-27]]|accessdate = 2007-07-06|url = http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/06/27/newsstory9913379t0.asp }}</ref><ref>[http://www.kirkcaldycivicsociety.co.uk/kdy/famousfolk.htm FAMOUS FOLK], Kirkcaldy Civic Society</ref> although media<ref>{{cite news|title = Family detective|publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date = [[2007-04-28]]|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 = [[ITV News]]|date = [[2007-06-27]]|accessdate = 2007-07-06|url = http://www.itv.com/news/aa672bbdda96b7b668b9649e160ac5ba.html}}</ref> have occasionally given his place of birth as [[Giffnock]], [[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]], where his parents were living at the time. |
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His father, John Ebenezer Brown, was a [[Ministers and elders in the Church of Scotland|minister]] of the [[Church of Scotland]]. He was a strong influence on Brown and died in 1998, aged 84.<ref>{{cite news|title = Chancellor's daughter remembered at christening service|publisher = Scotsman.com|date = [[2004-04-23]]|accessdate = 2007-09-23|url = http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=110&id=455352004 }}</ref> His mother Jessie Elizabeth Souter, known as Bunty, died in 2004 aged 86.<ref>{{cite news|title = Brown mourns loss of mother|publisher = Scotsman.com|date = [[2004-09-20]]|accessdate = 2007-09-23|url = http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=110&id=1102842004 }}</ref> She was the daughter of John Souter, a timber merchant.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/04/28/nosplit/ftfamdet128.xml Family detective]</ref> Gordon was brought up with his brothers John and Andrew Brown in a [[manse]] in [[Kirkcaldy]]—the largest town in [[Fife]], [[Scotland]] across the [[Firth of Forth]] from [[Edinburgh]].<ref name="aaa">{{cite news|title = From a Scottish manse to Number 10|publisher =The Washington Times|date = [[2007-07-14]]|accessdate = 2007-09-23|url = http://www3.washingtontimes.com/world/20070616-094030-8967r.htm }}</ref> In common with many other [[notable Scots]], he is therefore often referred to as a "son of the manse". Brown was educated first at Kirkcaldy West Primary School<ref>{{cite news|title = Chancellor on the ropes; Profile: Gordon Brown|publisher =The Independent (London)|date = [[2000-09-23]]|accessdate = 2007-09-23|url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000923/ai_n14342649 }}</ref> where he was selected for an experimental [[Ability grouping|fast stream]] education programme, which took him two years early to [[Kirkcaldy High School]] for an academic [[Hothousing (education)|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=[[The Times]]|date=[[May 19]], [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-07-13}}</ref> |
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He was accepted by the [[University of Edinburgh]] to study history at the age of only 16. He suffered a [[retinal detachment]] after being kicked in the head during an end-of-term [[rugby union]] match at his old school. He was left [[Blindness|blind]] in his left eye, despite treatment including several operations and lying in a darkened room for weeks at a time. Later at Edinburgh, while playing [[tennis]], he noticed the same symptoms in his right eye. Brown underwent experimental surgery at [[Edinburgh Royal Infirmary]] and his eye was saved.<ref name="ddd">{{cite news |first=Suzie |last=Mackenzie |title=Will he? Won't he? |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/sep/25/interviews.labourconference |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=2004-09-25 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> Brown graduated from Edinburgh with [[First Class Honours]] [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|MA]] in 1972,<ref name="bbb">{{cite web | title="Biography of the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury" | url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page12037.asp | accessdate= September 23 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref> and stayed on to complete his [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] (which he gained in 1982), titled ''The Labour Party and Political Change in Scotland 1918-29''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=70vRFO9Mo6oC&pg=PA262&lpg=PA262&dq=%22the+labour+party+and+political+change+in+scotland%22+1982&source=web&ots=0h5Nh_Dhyd&sig=Ky6m7yB5eMixfMyFBExxOVEKHnc|title=State of the Union: Unionism and the Alternatives in the United Kingdom|author=Iain MacLean, Alistair MacMillan|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|date=2005|accessdate=2007-09-23}}</ref> |
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In 1972, while still a student and with strong connections with the previous Dean of Admissions, Brown was elected [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh|Rector]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4683799.stm Brown's first taste of power] [[BBC]] News [[15 July]] [[2005]]</ref> of the University of Edinburgh, the convener of the [[University Court]]. Brown served as Rector until 1975, and he also edited ''The Red Paper on Scotland''.<ref>[http://www.redpaper.net/about.htm About The Red Paper on Scotland] Red Paper on Scotland website.</ref> From 1976 to 1980 he was employed as a lecturer in [[Politics]] at [[Glasgow Caledonian University|Glasgow College of Technology]] - in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1979|1979 general election]], Brown stood for the [[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]] constituency and lost to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate, [[Michael Ancram]].<ref name="bbb"/> From 1980 he worked as a journalist at [[Scottish Television]], later serving as current affairs editor until his election to parliament in 1983.<ref>[http://www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=334&issue=115 "Brown's Journey from Reformism to Neoliberalism"] John Newsinger [[International Socialism (journal)|International Socialism]] 115 (summer 2007)</ref> |
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== Election to parliament and opposition == |
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Gordon Brown was elected to Parliament on his second attempt as a Labour MP for [[Dunfermline East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dunfermline East]] in [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 general election]] and became [[Opposition (government)|opposition]] spokesman on Trade and Industry in 1985. In 1986, he published a [[biography]] of the [[Independent Labour Party]] politician [[James Maxton]], the subject of his [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] thesis. Brown was [[Shadow Cabinet|Shadow]] [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]] from 1987 to 1989 and then Shadow [[Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]], before becoming Shadow Chancellor in 1992.<ref name="bbb"/><ref name="ccc"/> |
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Having led the ''Labour Movement Yes'' campaign, refusing to join the cross-party ''Yes for Scotland'' campaign, during the [[1979 Scottish devolution referendum]], while other senior Labour politicians - including [[Robin Cook]], [[Tam Dalyell]] and [[Brian Wilson (politician)|Brian Wilson]] - campaigned for a ''No'' vote, Brown was subsequently a key participant in the [[Scottish Constitutional Convention]], signing the [[Claim of Right for Scotland]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kenyon |last=Wright |authorlink= Canon Kenyon Wright |url= |
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http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_19990404/ai_n13938013 |title=Scotland can sing a new song to a different tune and in a clear voice |publisher=Sunday Herald |date= 1999-04-04 |accessdate= 2008-03-01 |quote=... the Claim of Right of Scotland. I have it before me now as I write - a note of sadness as I see that the first two signatures, side by side, are those of the late John Smith MP and myself, a note of gratified surprise to see these closely followed by the autographs of Gordon Brown, Robin Cook, George Robertson, Donald Dewar, Malcolm Bruce, Jim Wallace and, more important, an impressive cross-section of Scotland's civil society.}}</ref> |
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After the sudden death of Labour leader [[John Smith (UK politician)|John Smith]] 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= [[The Times]] |date=[[1994-05-13]] |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.}}</ref> but did not contest the leadership after [[Tony Blair]] became favourite. It has long been rumoured a deal was struck between Blair and Brown at the former [[Granita (restaurant)|Granita restaurant]] in [[Islington]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=White |authorlink=Michael White (journalist) |title=The guarantee which came to dominate new Labour politics for a decade |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2003/jun/06/uk.labour |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date= 2003-06-06|accessdate=2008-03-01 }} </ref> in which Blair promised to give Brown control of economic policy in return for Brown not standing against him in the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1994|leadership election]].<ref> {{cite news |first=Catherine |last=Mayer |authorlink=Catherine Mayer |title=Fight Club |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901050124-1018039-2,00.html |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=2005-01-16 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> Whether this is true or not, the relationship between Blair and Brown has been central to the fortunes of "[[Labour Party (UK)#New Labour|New Labour]]", and they have mostly remained united in public, despite reported serious private rifts.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Wheeler |title=The Tony Blair story |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6506365.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=2007-05-10 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> |
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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 [[inflation (economics)|inflation]], 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 = [[2003-10-27]] | title = On the edge of a volcano | journal = [[New Statesman]] | 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> |
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Following a reorganisation of [[List of UK Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland|parliamentary constituencies]] in [[Scotland]], Brown became MP for [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (UK Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]] at the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 election]].<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,9338,-1059,00.html The Guardian 2005 election results for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]</ref> |
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== Brown as Chancellor of the Exchequer == |
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[[Image:Gordon Brown IMF.jpg|thumb|Gordon Brown speaking at the annual [[World Bank]]/[[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] meeting in 2002]] |
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:''See also [[Chancellorship of Gordon Brown]] |
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Brown's ten years and two months as [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] made him the longest-serving Chancellor in modern history.<ref name="ddd"/> |
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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 [[G8]] summit in 2005.<ref name="bbb"/> However, critics of Brown's record as Chancellor point out that he was fortunate to inherit a strong economy from the Conservatives.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3804449.stm The UK's longest-serving chancellor - dour or dashing?] [[BBC News]], [[15 June]] [[2004]]</ref> |
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=== Acts as Chancellor === |
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* '''Bank of England independence''': On taking office as [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] Brown gave the [[Bank of England]] operational independence in [[monetary policy]], and thus responsibility for setting [[interest rate]]s through the Bank's [[Monetary Policy Committee]]. |
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* '''Spending''': Once the two-year period of following the Conservatives' spending plans was over, Brown's 2000 Spending Review outlined a major expansion of [[government spending]], particularly on health and education. In his April 2002 budget, Brown raised [[national insurance]] to pay for health spending. Brown changed [[tax policy]] in other ways, such as the [[working tax credit]]s.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5032170.stm More get tax credit overpayments] [[BBC News]], [[31 May]] [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn52.pdf#search=%22working%20tax%20credit%2016%20hours%22 The impact of tax and benefit changes between April 2000 and April 2003 on parents' labour supply] Blundell, R., M. Brewer and A. Shepherd, [[Institute for Fiscal Studies]], Briefing Note No. 52, 2004 </ref> |
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* '''Growth''': An OECD report<ref>[http://www.oecd.org/document/61/0,2340,en_2649_201185_2483901_1_1_1_1,00.html OECD Economic Outlook No. 78 Annex Tables - Table of Contents]</ref> shows UK [[economic growth]] averaged 2.7% between 1997 and 2006, higher than the Eurozone's 2.1%, though lower than in any other [[English language|English-speaking]] country. UK unemployment is 5.5%,<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=12 National Statistics Unemployment rate]</ref> down from 7% in 1997 and lower than the Eurozone's average of 8.1%. |
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* '''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>{{cite news |first=Julian |last=Glover |title=The five tests |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2000/sep/29/emu.theeuro4 |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=2000-09-29 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> to ascertain whether the economic case had been made. In June 2003 [[HM Treasury|the Treasury]] indicated the tests had not been passed.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2975560.stm UK 'not yet ready for the euro'] BBC, [[9 June]] [[2003]]</ref> |
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[[Image:G8brown.JPG|thumb|Gordon Brown meeting Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] in 2006]] |
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* '''Gold sales''': Between 1999 and 2002 Brown sold 60% of the UK's [[gold reserves]] at $275 an ounce.<ref>[http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/mediastore/otherfiles/GoldReserves.pdf HM Treasury review of UK gold reserves sales]</ref> It was later attacked as a "disastrous foray into international asset management"<ref>[http://business.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2313142005 Brown's gold sale losses pile up as bullion price surges] Scotsman.com website [[28 November]] [[2005]]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. The gold sales have earned him the pejorative nickname '[[Golden Brown]]', after the song by [[The Stranglers]].[http://www.taxfreegold.co.uk/goldenbrown.html] |
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* '''Spectrum auctions''': Under Brown, [[telecom]] [[radio frequency]] [[auction]]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>{{cite news |title=Dial-a-fortune |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,178157,00.html |work=[[guardian.co.uk]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=2000-04-13 |accessdate=2008-02-29 }}</ref> [[Germany]] at this time applied a similar auction, and these together caused a severe [[recession]] in the European telecoms development industry (2001 [[Telecoms crash]]) with the loss of 100,000 jobs across Europe, 30,000 of those in the UK.<ref>Spectrum pricings uncertain future, Electronics World, Vol 108. September pp.24-25</ref> |
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* '''Debt relief and development''': Brown believes it is appropriate to remove much of the unpayable [[Third World debt]] but does not think all debt should be wiped out.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gordon Brown answers your questions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/369846.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=1999-06-15 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> On [[20 April]] [[2006]], in a speech to the [[United Nations]] Ambassadors, Brown outlined a "[[Green politics|Green]]" view of global development. |
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====Tax==== |
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In the 1997 election and subsequently, Brown pledged to not increase the basic or higher rates of [[income tax]]. Over his Chancellorship, he 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 [[fiscal drag]]. [[Corporation tax]] fell under Brown, from a main rate of 33% to 28%, and from 24% to 19% for [[small business]]es.<ref name=AdamBrowne>Adam, S. and J. Browne: {{PDFlink|[http://www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn09.pdf A survey of the UK tax system]|2.74 [[Mebibyte|MiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 2883126 bytes -->}} ([http://72.14.221.104/u/ifs?q=cache:wlXNSdRqqg8J:www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn09.pdf+uk+tax+system Google cache HTML]), [[Institute for Fiscal Studies]], [[Briefing note]] No. 9, March 2006</ref> |
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In 1999, Brown introduced a lower tax band of 10%. He [[Alistair_Darling#10p_Tax_Fiasco|abolished]] this in his last budget in 2007 to reduce the basic rate from 22% to 20%, increasing tax for 5 million people,<ref name="indy_10revolt">{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brown-faces-revolt-over-scrapping-10p-income-tax-band-804528.html?r=RSS |publisher=[[The Independent]] |title=Brown faces revolt over scrapping 10p income tax band |first=Andrew |last=Grice |date=[[4 April]] [[2008]] |accessdate=2008-04-20 }}</ref> and, according to the [[Institute for Fiscal Studies]] leaving those earning between under £18,000 as the biggest losers.<ref name="times_10criticism">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3779976.ece |publisher=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=[[20 April]] [[2008]] |title=Gordon Brown cornered as rebellion over 10p tax reform grows |author=Isabel Oakeshott and David Leppard }}</ref> |
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=== Analysis of policies as Chancellor === |
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* '''Growth''': Brown states that his Chancellorship had seen the longest period of sustained economic growth in the [[history of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Ellson |title=Budgeting for stable economic growth |url=http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about/CI/CP/Our_Society_Today/News_Articles_2005/economy.aspx |work=ESRC Society Today |publisher=[[Economic and Social Research Council]] |date=2007-09-07 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Julian |last=Glover |title=His record - 304 years and counting |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/mar/17/uk.budget2005 |work[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=2005-03-17 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> The details in Brown's growth figures have been challenged.<ref>{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Thornton |title=Sleight of hand fails to hide gaping holes in public purse |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/money/tax/sleight-of-hand-fails-to-hide-gaping-holes-in-public-purse-528804.html |work=[[The Independent]] |publisher=[[Independent News & Media]] |date=2005-03-17 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Election fact check: Economic growth |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/issues/4423887.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=2005-04-08 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> |
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* '''Anti-poverty''': The [[Centre for Policy Studies]] 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>{{cite news |first=David |last=Smith |title=Poor lose out in Brown's tax reforms |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article626699.ece |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |publisher=[[News Corporation]] |date=2006-09-03 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> |
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* '''Tax''': According to the [[Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] UK taxation has increased from a 39.3% share of [[gross domestic product]] in 1997 to 42.4% in 2006, going to a higher level than Germany.<ref>OECD: [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/5/51/2483816.xls General Government Outlays as percentage of GDP] ([[Microsoft Office Excel]] table)</ref> This increase has mainly been attributed to active government policy, and not simply to the growing economy. |
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* '''Pensions''': Conservatives have accused Brown of imposing "[[stealth tax]]es". A commonly reported example resulted in 1997 from a technical change in the way [[corporation tax]] is collected, the indirect effect of which was for the [[dividend]]s on [[stock]] investments held within [[pension]]s to be taxed, thus lowering pension returns and contributing to the demise of some pension funds.<ref>{{cite news |first=Liam |last=Halligan |authorlink=Liam Halligan |title=Brown's raid on pensions costs Britain £100 billion |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/15/nbrown15.xml |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=2006-10-16 |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> The Treasury contend that this tax change was crucial to long-term economic growth. |
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=== Other policy stances as Chancellor === |
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* '''Higher education''': In 2000, Brown started a political row about [[higher education]] (referred to as the [[Laura Spence Affair]]) when he accused the [[University of Oxford]] of [[elitism]] in its admissions procedures, describing its decision not to offer a place to [[state school]] pupil Laura Spence as "absolutely outrageous".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/764141.stm| title = Oxford 'reject' wins Harvard scholarship| accessdate = 2007-03-30| date = [[2000-05-22]]| work = BBC News| publisher = [[BBC]]}}</ref> [[Roy Jenkins|Lord Jenkins]], then Oxford [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]], 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 = [[2000-06-15]]| work = BBC News| publisher = [[BBC]]}}</ref> |
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* '''Anti-racism and popular culture''': During a diplomatic visit to [[India]] in January 2007, Brown responded to questions concerning perceived [[racism]] and [[bullying]] against [[Bollywood]] actress [[Shilpa Shetty]] on the British [[reality TV]] show [[Celebrity Big Brother 2007 (UK)|''Celebrity Big Brother'']] 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 = [[2007-02-27]]| work = Guardian Unlimited| publisher = Guardian News and Media Limited }}</ref> |
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== Run up to succeeding Blair == |
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:''Main articles [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2007|Labour Party leadership election, 2007]] and [[Timeline for the Labour Party (UK) leadership elections, 2007|Timeline for the Labour Party leadership elections, 2007]] |
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In October 2004 [[Tony Blair]] announced he would not lead the party into a fourth [[general election]], but would serve a full third term.<ref>{{cite video | people = Marr, Andrew (interviewer) | year =2004 | title = BBC Interview | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/news_web/video/40131000/bb/40131028_bb_16x9.ram | medium = Television| location = London | publisher = BBC News}}</ref> Political controversy over the relationship between Brown and Blair continued up to and beyond the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 election]], which Labour won with a reduced parliamentary majority and reduced vote share. The two campaigned together but the British media remained—and remains—full of reports on their mutual acrimony. |
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Blair, under pressure from within his own party, announced on [[7 September]] [[2006]] 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 = [[2006-09-08]] | work = [[The New York Times]] | publisher = [[The New York Times Company]] | 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 [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2007|candidate]] spoken of seriously in Westminster. Appearances and news coverage leading up to the handover were interpreted as preparing the ground for Brown to become [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], in part by creating the impression of a statesman with a vision for leadership and [[global change]]. |
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Brown is the first prime minister from a Scottish constituency since the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]/[[Unionist Party (Scotland)|SUP]] [[Alec Douglas-Home|Sir Alec Douglas-Home]] in 1964. He is also one of only four prime ministers who attended a university other than [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] or [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], along with [[John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute|the Earl of Bute]] ([[University of Leiden|Leiden]]), [[John Russell, 1st Earl Russell|Lord John Russell]] ([[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]]) and [[Neville Chamberlain]] ([[Mason Science College]], later [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham]]).<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 = [[2005-08-01]] | work = BBC - h2g2 | publisher = [[BBC]] }}</ref> |
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On [[9 September]] [[2006]] [[Charles Clarke]] said in an interview that the Chancellor had "psychological" issues he must confront and accused him of being a "[[control freak]]" 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 = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | publisher = Telegraph Media Group Limited | date = [[2006-09-09]] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> Environment Secretary [[David Miliband]] stressed his support for Brown.<ref> |
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{{cite news | first = Martin | last = Bright | title = It must be Gordon, Gordon, Gordon | url = http://www.newstatesman.com/200609110013 | work = [[New Statesman]] | publisher = New Stickman | date = [[2006-09-11]] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> |
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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 [[11 Downing Street]].<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 = [[The Observer]] | publisher = Guardian News and Media Limited | page = | date = [[2007-01-14]] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> This enabled Brown to signal the most significant priorities for his agenda as Prime Minister; speaking at a [[Fabian Society]] conference on 'The Next Decade' in January 2007, he stressed 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.<ref>{{cite press release |title = Make education our national mission |publisher = [[Fabian Society]] | date = [[2007-01-15]] |url= http://fabians.org.uk/events/new-year-conference-07/brown-next-decade/speech |accessdate= 2007-07-10}}</ref> |
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In March 2007 Brown's character was attacked by [[Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull|Lord Turnbull]] who worked for Brown as [[Permanent Secretary]] 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 = [[2007-03-20]] | 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. |
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== Brown as Prime Minister == |
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:''See also [[Premiership of Gordon Brown]] |
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{{update}} |
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Brown ceased to be Chancellor and, upon the approval of Her Majesty [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on [[27 June]] [[2007]].<ref name="npm"/> Like all modern Prime Ministers, Brown concurrently serves as the [[First Lord of the Treasury]] and the [[Minister for the Civil Service]], and is a member of the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] and, hence, also a [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|Privy Counsellor]]. He is also [[Labour Party (UK)#Leaders of the Labour Party since 1906|Leader of the Labour Party]] and Member of Parliament for the constituency of [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (UK Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]]. He is the sixth of the twelve post-war Prime Ministers to be appointed to the role without having won a general election.<ref>O'Connor, John Kennedy. "Brown's Ascendency" ABC Radio National Perspective. June 25, 2007. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/perspective/stories/2007/1960948.htm</ref> |
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=== Policies === |
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Brown has proposed moving some traditional prime ministerial powers conferred by [[royal prerogative]] 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 "citizens' 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 [[Cash for Peerages|loans for peerages]] 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 = [[2007-07-05]] }}</ref> |
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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 = [[2007-05-13]] }}</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 = [[2007-05-13]] }}</ref> |
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* '''End to corruption''': Following the [[cash for honours]] 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.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} |
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* '''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 [[Whitehall]] and local government. Brown has said he will give Parliament the final say on whether British troops are sent into action in future. |
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* '''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 new [[Eco-towns (UK)|eco-towns]], each housing between 10,000 and 20,000 homeowners—up to 100,000 new homes in total. |
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* '''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 [[John Reid (politician)|John Reid]], which awarded them a 22% pay rise in 2006. Brown stated that the NHS was his "top 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 = [[2007-05-13]] }}</ref> |
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The Brown government was involved in controversy in April 2008 over the decision to scrap the 10p Income Tax Band and he was forced into making concessions. In the local elections on [[1 May]] [[2008]], Labour suffered their worst results in 40 years finishing in third place with a projected 24% share of the national vote.<ref>{{cite news | title = Labour suffers big council losses | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7372860.stm| work = BBC | date = [[2008-05-02]] }}</ref> Subsequently the party has seen the loss of by-elections in Nantwich and Crewe and Henley as well as slumps in the polls. A by election in Glasgow East triggered by the resignation of David Marshall saw the Labour party struggle to appoint a candidate, eventually settling for a 5th choice, a sitting MSP in the Scottish Parliament Margaret Curran. The SNP, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have all derided the party for their disorganised nature with Alex Salmond commenting "This is their 'lost weekend' - they don't have a leader in Scotland, they don't have a candidate in Glasgow East, and they have a prime minister who refuses to come to the constituency"<ref>BBC News website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7491574.stm </ref>. A former Labour spin doctor has commented that the loss of a safe seat in Glasgow (one of the safest Labour seats in the country) would indicate to Gordon Brown that any MP with a majority of less than 13,500 would be unsafe and his position as Prime Minister would be untenable.<ref>http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/726266?UserKey=0</ref> |
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=== Foreign policy === |
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[[Image:Gordon Brown Raila Odinga.JPG|thumb|Gordon Brown touring the slums of [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]] in 2005]] |
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Brown remains committed to the [[Iraq War]], but said in a speech in June 2007 that he would "learn the lessons" from the mistakes made in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news | first=George | last=Jones | coauthors= | title=The subtle shift in British foreign policy | date=2007-06-12 | publisher= | url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/11/wbrown111.xml | work =Telegraph.co.uk | pages = | accessdate = 2007-09-23 | language = }}</ref> |
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Brown made his first overseas trip as Prime Minister not to Washington, but to Berlin, and spoke to German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]. |
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In a speech given to the [[Labour Friends of Israel]] in April 2007, Brown stated: |
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<blockquote>Many of you know my interest in [[Israel]] and in the [[Jew]]ish community has been long-standing…My father was the chairman of the [[Church of Scotland]]'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 [[Fife]], 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 [[Holocaust]], as well as the extraordinary struggle that he described to me of people to create this magnificent homeland.<ref>Jonny Paul: [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1182951030857&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Background: New British PM will likely be friend to Israel], [[Jerusalem Post]], [[June 27]], [[2007]]</ref></blockquote> |
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Brown said in a letter published [[March 17]] [[2008]] that the [[United Kingdom]] will hold an inquiry into the [[Iraq war]] -- but not soon.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/17/iraq.inquiry.ap/index.html Brown agrees to Iraq war probe -- one day], [[CNN]], [[March 17]], [[2008]]</ref>British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will skip the opening ceremony of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], on [[August 8]] [[2008]] in [[Beijing]], it was reported on [[April 9]] [[2008]]. But, he will not boycotting the Olympics and will attend the closing ceremony, on [[August 24]] [[2008]]. Brown has been under intense pressure from human rights campaigners to send a message to [[China]], concerning the [[2008 Tibetan unrest]]. But his decision not to attend the opening ceremony is not an act of protest, the decision was made weeks ago and was not a stand on principle.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/09/oly.britain.china.ap/index.html UK's Brown to skip Olympics opening], [[CNN]], [[April 10]], [[2008]]</ref> |
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====Diplomatic relationship with the U.S.==== |
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[[Image:Bush Brown.jpg|thumb|left|Brown with American President [[George W. Bush]]]] |
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There has been widespread speculation on the nature of the UK's relationship with the [[United States]] under Brown's government. A [[Washington, D.C.]] speech by Brown's close aide [[Douglas Alexander]] 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 =[[BBC]] | 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 [[Internationalism (politics)|internationalist]], not [[isolationist]], [[multilateralist]], not [[unilateralist]], active and not passive, and driven by core values, consistently applied, not special interests." |
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However Downing Street's spokesman strongly denied the suggestion that Alexander was trying to distance Britain from [[foreign relations of the United States|U.S. foreign policy]] and show that Britain would not necessarily, in [[Tony Blair]]'s words, stand "shoulder to shoulder" with [[George W. Bush]] over future [[military intervention]]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 =[[The Guardian]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-14 | language = }}</ref>: "I thought the interpretation that was put on Douglas Alexander's words was quite extraordinary. To interpret this as saying anything at all about our relationship with the U.S. is nonsense." |
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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 =[[BBC]] | 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 [[Special Relationship (US-UK)|relationship between Britain and America]] and between a [[British prime minister]] and an [[American president]] is built on the things that we share, the same enduring values about the importance of [[liberty]], opportunity, the dignity of the individual. I will continue to work, as Tony Blair did, very closely with the [[Federal government of the United States|American administration]]." |
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== Married life and family == |
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Brown's early girlfriends included the journalist [[Sheena McDonald]], Marion Caldwell<ref name="ccc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6743875.stm The Gordon Brown Story] '''BBC News'''</ref> and [[Margarita of Romania|Princess Margarita]], the eldest daughter of exiled [[Michael of Romania|King Michael of Romania]]. 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> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/budget2001/story/0,,447338,00.html Gordon Brown profiled], [[The Guardian]], March 6, 2001</ref> |
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Brown married [[Sarah Brown (Prime Minister's wife)|Sarah Macaulay]] in a private ceremony at his home in [[North Queensferry]], Fife, on [[3 August]] [[2000]].<ref>{{cite web | title=BBC News | UK | Gordon and Sarah wed at home: | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/864413.stm | accessdate= September 23 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref> On [[28 December]] [[2001]], a daughter, Jennifer Jane, was born prematurely and died on [[8 January]] [[2002]]. Gordon Brown commented at the time that their recent experiences had changed him and his wife: |
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<blockquote>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> [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/02/06/ngord06.xml Losing baby has changed us forever, says Brown], The Telegraph [[6 February]] [[2002]] Accessed [[10 June]] [[2007]]</ref></blockquote> |
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They have two children, John Macaulay<ref>http://news.scotsman.com/gordonbrownsfamily/Chancellors-daughter-remembered-at-christening.2522714.jp</ref> and James Fraser. In November 2006, James Fraser was diagnosed with [[cystic fibrosis]].<ref>{{cite web | title="BBC News | Scotland | Edinburgh and East | Browns' new baby James in debut" | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/5202830.stm | accessdate= September 23 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref> |
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Sarah Brown keeps a low profile, rarely making official appearances either with or without her husband, in contrast to [[Cherie Blair]]. She is inevitably much sought after to give interviews, although is reluctant to do so.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/12/nbrown512.xml|title=Wife will seek to stay out of the limelight|publisher=''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''|date=2007-05-12|accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> However, she is patron of several charities, and has written articles for national newspapers related to this.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/maggiescentre/Why-I-want-you-to.2825970.jp|last=Brown|first=Sarah|authorlink=Sarah Brown (Prime Minister's wife)|title=Why I want you to get behind Maggie's|publisher=''[[The Scotsman]]''|date=2006-11-11|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> |
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Of his two brothers, John Brown is Head of Public Relations in the [[Glasgow]] City Council.<ref>{{cite news|first=Neil|last=Mackay|title=this woman could save you £40m|publisher=''The Sunday Herald''|date=[[February 20]], [[2000]]|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20000220/ai_n13946519}}</ref> His brother Andrew Brown has been Head of Media Relations in the UK for the French-owned utility company [[EDF Energy]] since 2004. He was previously director of media strategy at the world's largest [[public relations]] firm [[Weber Shandwick]] from June 2003 to 2004. Previously he was editor of the [[Channel 4]] political programme ''Powerhouse'' from 1996 to 2003, and worked at the [[BBC]] from the late 1970s to early 1980s.<ref> [http://edfenergy.com/html/showPage.do?name=edfenergy.media.news.item.til&cmsPage=/opencms/export/www.edfenergy.com/media/news/20040913.html Andrew Brown to head media team at EDF Energy], [[EDF Energy]], [[September 13]], [[2004]]</ref> |
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== Controversies == |
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{{criticism-section}} |
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=== Links with nuclear power industry === |
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Another controversial issue was the link between Brown's brother Andrew and one of the main nuclear lobbyists, [[EDF Energy]],<ref> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/nuclear/article/0,,1817582,00.html The powerful business of promoting a nuclear future], Terry Macalister |
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[[July 11]], [[2006]], ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> given the finding that the government did not carry a proper public consultation on the use of [[Nuclear power in the United Kingdom|nuclear power]] in its 2006 Energy Review.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6364281.stm Nuclear review 'was misleading'], [[BBC News]], [[15 February]],[[2007]]</ref> Attention has also been drawn to the fact<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5149676.stm Labour and the nuclear lobby], Analysis, Brian Wheeler, [[BBC News]], [[May 23]], [[2007]]</ref> that the [[father-in-law]] of Brown's closest adviser [[Ed Balls]], Tony Cooper (father of the Labour minister [[Yvette Cooper]]) 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 [[Nuclear Decommissioning Authority]] and was appointed to the Energy Advisory Panel by the previous Conservative administration.<ref> [http://www.niauk.org/news/latest-nuclear-news/tony-cooper-is-new-chairman-of-bnif.html Tony Cooper is new Chairman of BNIF], [[28 June]] [[2002]], Nuclear Industry Association</ref> |
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=== The "non-election" === |
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Gordon Brown caused controversy during September and early October 2007 by letting speculation continue on whether he would call a [[snap election|snap general election]]. Following David Cameron's 'off the cuff' speech and an opinion poll showing Labour 6% behind the Conservative Party in key marginal seats, he finally announced that there would be no [[United Kingdom general election|election]] in the near future and seemed to rule out an election in [[2008]].<ref>{{cite web | title=BBC News - Brown rules out autumn election" | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7031749.stm | accessdate= October 06 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref> This has been taken by some in the media and opposition as a sign of weakness. |
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===Military covenant=== |
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November 2007 saw Brown face intense criticism of not adhering to the '[[military covenant]]', a convention within British politics stating that in exchange for them putting their lives at risk for the sake of national security, the armed forces should in turn be suitably looked after by the government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Army Jobs ''Core Values and the Military Covenant''|url=http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/How+do+I+Join/Roles+and+Ranks/Core+Values.htm}}</ref> Criticism has come from several former Chiefs of Defence, including [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank|Lord Guthrie]], [[First Sea Lord]] [[Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce|Lord Boyce]], [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley|Lord Craig]], [[Field Marshal (UK)|Field Marshal]] [[Edwin Bramall, Baron Bramall|Lord Bramall]] and [[Field Marshal (UK)|Field Marshal]] [[Peter Inge, Baron Inge|Lord Inge]].<ref>{{cite web | title="AOL Video - Gordon Brown criticised by senior military figures" | url= |
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http://video.aol.com/video-detail/gordon-brown-criticised-by-senior-military-figures/3323099991 | accessdate= November 11 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title="The Independent - Renew the Military Covenant" | url=http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article3149962.ece | accessdate= November 11 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref> Poor housing, lack of equipment and adequate healthcare provisions are some of the major issues Brown has been accused of neglecting. |
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=== European Union === |
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Brown has continued to be dogged by controversy about not holding a referendum on the EU [[Treaty of Lisbon]], despite a Labour manifesto pledge to give the British public a referendum on the original [[EU Constitution]]. Brown has argued that the Treaty significantly differs from the Constitution, and as such does not require a referendum. This approach has seen Brown come under heavy fire from opponents on both sides of the House and in the press.<ref>{{cite web | title="The Times - Gordon Brown attacked on all sides for ‘running away’ from referendum" | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2718086.ece | accessdate= October 23 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref> Brown has responded with plans for a lengthy debate on the topic, stating that he believes the issue to be too complex for the British people to decide.<ref>{{cite web | title="The Times - Battle of the EU treaty to last for months" | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2687253.ece | accessdate= October 19 | accessyear= 2007 }}</ref> This has led to him being labelled patronising and out of touch with popular opinion. Brown's stubbornness on the issue may largely be due to the fact that he thinks he would lose a referendum on account of widespread [[Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom]]. |
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== Depictions of Brown in popular culture == |
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Brown's reputed dourness while holding a high public office comes across in the way he is portrayed on both the screen—where he was played by [[David Morrissey]] in the [[Stephen Frears]] directed [[Television movie|TV movie]] ''[[The Deal (2003 film)|The Deal]]'' and by [[Peter Mullen]] in the TV movie ''[[The Trial of Tony Blair]]''—and stage: he features as a character in the 2007 Musical ''[[TONY! The Blair Musical]]'', written by [[Chris Bush (Playwright)|Chris Bush]] and Ian McCluskey. During its run in [[York]], he was played by Bush, and then by Michael Slater at the 2007 [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]] and subsequently at the Pleasance Theatre in [[Islington]], [[London]]. Also drawing on this perception, radio presenter [[Nick Abbot]] plays a sound effect of [[Darth Vader]] because of the way Gordon Brown's jaw appears to detach as he breathes in. |
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In keeping with its tradition of having a comic strip for every Prime Minister, ''[[Private Eye (magazine)|Private Eye]]'' features a comic strip, ''The Broonites'' (itself a parody of ''[[The Broons]]''), parodying Brown's government. The ''Eye'' has also started a column titled ''Prime Ministerial Decree''<ref>[http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=pm_decree&| Decree From the Supreme Leader]</ref>, a parody of statements that would be issued by [[Communist]] governments in the former [[Eastern Bloc]]. This is in reference to a criticism of Brown having "[[Stalinist]] tendencies". |
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The Blair-Brown rivalry has also been the subject of substantial cultural attention, and indeed the television and stage productions mentioned above touch on it. Furthermore, the [[Franz Ferdinand (band)|Franz Ferdinand]] song "You're the Reason I'm Leaving" (from ''[[You Could Have It So Much Better]]'') 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 [[10 Downing Street|number ten]], singing "fare thee well, I am leaving, yes I leave it all to you."'' |
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In the movie ''[[The Queen (film)|The Queen]]'', when [[Tony Blair]] (played by [[Michael Sheen]]) is talking with [[Alastair Campbell]] (played by Mark Bazeley) about the result of the meeting of [[Princess Diana]]'s funeral and the press' response to Tony Blair's speech about Diana's death, there is a call from someone named Gordon, and Tony Blair told his secretary to put him on hold.<ref name="Thequeenmovie">''The Queen'' DVD, Miramax, at 00:34:00</ref> This is a reference to Gordon Brown. |
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Gordon Brown was depicted in Season 12 of ''[[South Park]]'' sitting at a table of world leaders opposite [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] in the episode "[[Canada on Strike]]". He was portrayed speaking in an English accent, perhaps a reflection of the mellowing his Scottish accent has received over the years. However, the accuracy of the impersonation is still under question.<ref name="BrownsEnglishAccent">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1845267.ece Growling Gordon finds new voice as ‘estuawy Bwown’ - Times Online<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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Brown makes an appearance in the first issue of [[Marvel Comics]]' ''[[Captain Britain and MI: 13]]'', overseeing Britain's response to the [[Skrull]] invasion of Earth.<ref>''Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1''</ref> <ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1023597/Have-fear-Brown-help-save-world--new-comic-book-Captain-Britain.html Have no fear, SuperGordon is here to help save the world - but only in new comic book 'Captain Britain'], ''[[Daily Mail|The Daily Mail]]'', June 2, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/06/01/prime-minister-turns-comic-book-hero-78057-20590363/ Prime Minister turns comic book hero], ''[[Sunday Mail (Scotland)|The Sunday Mail]]'' June 1, 2008</ref> |
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== See also == |
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'''Labour politics:''' |
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* [[Blair-Brown deal]] |
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'''Electoral history:''' |
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* UK general elections: [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983]], [[United Kingdom general election, 1987|1987]], [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992]], [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997]], [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001]], [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005]], [[Next United Kingdom general election|subsequent election]] |
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* [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2007|Labour Party leadership election, 2007]] |
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'''Current administration:''' |
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* [[List of British Prime Ministers by nicknames]] |
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* [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] |
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'''Brown as Chancellor''' |
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*[[Chancellorship of Gordon Brown]] |
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== Notes == |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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== References == |
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=== Works === |
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* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= [[Britain's Everyday Heroes]] |year= 2007 |publisher= [[Mainstream Publishing]] |location= |isbn= 978-1-8459-6307-1 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= [[Courage: Eight Portraits]] |year= 2007 |publisher= [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-7475-6532-1 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= Wilf Stevenson |title= Speeches 1997-2006 |year= 2006 |publisher= [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-7475-8837-5 }} |
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* {{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 }} |
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* {{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 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon (ed.) |authorlink= |coauthors= [[Robin Cook|Cook, Robin]] (ed.) |title= Scotland: The Real Divide|year= 1987 |publisher= [[Mainstream Publishing]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-906391-18-1 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= Gordon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Maxton: A Biography |year= 1986 |publisher= [[Mainstream Publishing]] |location= |isbn= 978-1-85158-042-2 }} |
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=== Biographies === |
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* {{cite book |last= Bower |first= Tom |authorlink= Tom Bower |coauthors= |title= Gordon Brown |year= 2003 |publisher= [[HarperCollins]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-00-717540-6 }} |
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* {{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 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Keegan |first= William |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Prudence of Mr. Gordon Brown |year= 2003 |publisher= [[Wiley]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-470-84697-1 }} |
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* {{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 }} |
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* {{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 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Peston |first= Robert |authorlink= Robert Peston |coauthors= |title= Brown's Britain: How Gordon Runs the Show |year= 2005 |publisher= Short Books |location= |isbn= 978-1-904095-67-5 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Routledge |first= Paul |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Gordon Brown: The Biography |year= 1998 |publisher= [[Simon & Schuster]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-684-81954-9 }} |
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=== Others === |
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* {{cite book |last= [[Hugh Pym|Pym, Hugh]] |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= Kochan, Nick |title= Gordon Brown the First Year in Power |year= 1998 |publisher= [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-7475-3701-4 }} |
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* {{cite book |last= Rawnsley |first= Andrew |authorlink= Andrew Rawnsley |coauthors= |title= Servants of the people:The inside story of New Labour |year= 2001 |publisher= [[Penguin Books]] |location= |isbn= 978-0-14-027850-7 }} |
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* {{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 }} |
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* {{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 }} |
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== External links == |
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{{wikisource author}} |
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{{Wikiquote}} |
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{{Commons}} |
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* [http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12037.asp 10 Downing Street - Prime Minister: The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP] |
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* [http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2007/06/25/audio-and-transcript-of-gordon-browns-first-speech-as-labour-party-leader-on-24-june-2007-2/ Audio and Transcript of Gordon Brown’s First Speech as Labour Party Leader] 24 June 2007 |
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* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9437783/Gordon-Brown Gordon Brown - full access article] in [[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] |
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* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gordonbrown/0,,2081581,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Special Report: Gordon Brown] |
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* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/gordon_brown/kirkcaldy_and_cowdenbeath TheyWorkForYou.com - Gordon Brown] |
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* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4177281.stm BBC News - Gordon Brown in Africa] January 2005 trip about his 'Marshall plan for Africa' |
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* {{dmoz |Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/Society_and_Culture/History/Parliament/Prime_Ministers/Brown,_Gordon}} |
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* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1827164,00.html Observer: How Gordon Brown become the most powerful Chancellor in history] |
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* [http://www.uksbd.co.uk/gb.html Transcript of Gordon Brown's acceptance speech] Triple A accessible version |
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* [[John Newsinger]]: [http://www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=334&issue=115 Brown's Journey from Reformism to Neoliberalism], ''[[International Socialism (journal)|International Socialism]]'' — gives a left wing perspective on Gordon Brown's political evolution |
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* [http://www.gordonbrown.info Gordon Brown news and information] |
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{{s-bef|before=[[John Smith (UK politician)|John Smith]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]]|years=1992 – 1997}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Kenneth Clarke]]}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Kenneth Clarke]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]|years=1997 – 2007}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Alistair Darling]]}} |
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{{s-bef|rows=3|before=[[Tony Blair]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]|years=2007 – present}} |
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{{s-inc|rows=3}} |
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|- |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister for the Civil Service]]|years=2007 – present}} |
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|- |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[First Lord of the Treasury]]|years=2007 – present}} |
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{{s-par|uk}} |
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{{s-new|rows=2|constituency}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament]] for [[Dunfermline East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dunfermline East]]|years=[[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983]] – [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005]]}} |
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{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}} |
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|- |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament]] for [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (UK Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy<br />and Cowdenbeath]]|years=[[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005]] – present}} |
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{{s-inc}} |
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{{s-ppo}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Tony Blair]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the British Labour Party]]|years=2007 – present}} |
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{{s-inc}} |
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{{s-aca}} |
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{{succession box|title=[[Rector of the University of Edinburgh]]|before=[[Jonathon W. G. Wills]]|after=[[Magnús Magnússon]]|years=1973 – 1976}} |
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{{s-prec|ew}} |
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{{s-aft|after=The Rt Hon [[Michael Martin (politician)|Michael Martin]] MP'''<br />''[[Speaker of the House of Commons]]''}} |
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|- |
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! colspan="3" style="background: #ccffcc;" | Order of precedence [[Order of precedence in Scotland|Scotland]] & [[Order of precedence in Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]] |
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{{s-bef|before=The Most Rev and Rt Hon [[John Sentamu]]'''<br />''[[Archbishop of York]]''}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=Gentlemen'''<br />''Prime Minister''|years=}} |
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{{s-aft|after=The Rt Hon [[Michael Martin (politician)|Michael Martin]] MP'''<br />''[[Speaker of the House of Commons]]''}} |
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{{end}} |
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{{Gordon Brown}} |
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{{UKPrimeMinisters}} |
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{{Chancellor of the Exchequer}} |
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{{Great Offices of State}} |
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{{Brown Cabinet}} |
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{{UK Order of Precedence (Gentlemen)}} |
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{{Leaders of British political parties}} |
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{{UK Labour Party Leaders}} |
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{{European Council}} |
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{{Commission for Africa}} |
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Revision as of 09:42, 16 July 2008
{{Infobox Prime Minister
| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
| name = im a fucked up gay boy!
HAHAHA IM SO WIERD, MY NAME IS DALE MURPHY AND I THINK URRRRRRRR A GGAAAAAAAAAAAAAY BOOOOOOOOOOOOI PLZ BLOCK ME U FUCKED UP GAY
I DONT CARE