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Gordon Brown

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Gordon Brown
Brown as Prime Meenister, c. 2008
Prime Meenister o the Unitit Kinrick
In office
27 Juin 2007 – 11 Mey 2010
MonarchElizabeth II
First SecretaryPeter Mandelson (2009–10)
Precedit biTony Blair
Succeedit biDavid Cameron
Leader o the Labour Pairty
In office
24 Juin 2007 – 11 Mey 2010
DeputeHarriet Harman
Precedit biTony Blair
Succeedit biEd Miliband
Chancellor o the Exchequer
In office
2 Mey 1997 – 28 Juin 2007
Prime MeenisterTony Blair
Precedit biKenneth Clarke
Succeedit biAlistair Darling
Shaidae Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office
24 Julie 1992 – 2 Mey 1997
LeaderJohn Smith
Margaret Beckett
Tony Blair
Precedit biJohn Smith
Succeedit biKenneth Clarke
Shaidae Secretar o State for Trade
In office
2 November 1989 – 24 Julie 1992
LeaderNeil Kinnock
Precedit biBryan Gould
Succeedit biRobin Cook
Shaidae Chief Secretar tae the Treasury
In office
13 Julie 1987 – 2 November 1989
LeaderNeil Kinnock
Precedit biBryan Gould
Succeedit biMargaret Beckett
Member o Pairlament
for Kirkcaldy an Cowdenbeath
Dunfermline East (1983–2005)
In office
9 Juin 1983 – 30 Mairch 2015
Precedit biDick Douglas
Succeedit biRoger Mullin
Personal details
BornJames Gordon Brown
(1951-02-20) 20 Februar 1951 (age 73)
Giffnock, Scotland, Unitit Kinrick
Poleetical pairtyLabour
Spoose(s)Sarah Brown (2000–present)
BairnsJennifer Jane
John Macaulay
James Fraser
Alma materVarsity o Edinburgh
ReligionKirk o Scotland[1]

James Gordon Brown (born 20 Februar 1951) is a British politician that wis Prime Meenister o the Unitit Kinrick an Leader o the Labour Pairty frae 2007 til 2010. He serrt as Chancellor o the Exchequer in the Blair Govrenment frae 1997 til 2007. Brown wis a Member o Pairlament (MP) frae 1983 til 2015, furst fur Dumfaurlin East an later for Kirkcaudy an Coudenbeith.

A doctoral graduate o the Varsity o Edinburgh, Brown spent his early career wirkin as baith a lecturer at a further eddication college an a telly jurnalist. He entered Pairlament in 1983 as the MP for Dumfaurlin East. He jyned the Shaidae Cabinet in 1989 as Shaidae Secretar o State for Tred, an wis later promuived tae become Shaidae Chancellor o the Exchequer in 1992. Efter Labour's win in 1997, he wis appyntit Chancellor o the Exchequer, becomin the langest-servin hauder o that office in modren history.

Brown's time as Chancellor wis merked bi major reform o Breetain's monetar an fiscal policy airchitectur, transferrin interest rate settin pouers tae the Bank o Ingland, bi a wide extension o the pouers o the Thesaury tae kiver muckle domestic policy an bi transferrin responsibility for bankin superveesion tae the Financial Services Authority. Controversial muives includit the aboleetion o advance corporation tax (ACT) relief in his first budget,[2][3] an the remuival in his feenal budget o the 10% "stairtin rate" o personal income tax that he haed introduced in 1999.[4] In 2007, Tony Blair resigned as Prime Meenister an Labour Leader an Brown wis chuisen tae replace him in an uncontestit election.

Efter ineetial rises in opeenion polls follaein Brown becomin Prime Meenister, Labour's popularity declined wi the onset o a recession in 2008, leadin tae puir results in the local an European elections in 2009.[5][6] A year later, Labour lost 91 seats in the Hoose o Commons at the 2010 general election, the pairty's biggest loss o seats in a single general election syne 1931,[7] makkin the Conservatives the lairgest pairty in a hung pairlament. Brown remeened in office as Labour negotiatit tae form a coaleetion govrenment wi the Leeberal Democrats. On 10 Mey 2010, Brown annoonced he wad staund doun as leader o the Labour Pairty, an instructit the pairty tae pit intae motion the processes tae elect a new leader. Labour's attempts tae retain pouer failed an on 11 Mey, he offeecially resigned as Prime Meenister an Leader o the Labour Pairty. He wis succeedit as Prime Meenister bi David Cameron, an as Leader o the Labour Pairty bi Ed Miliband.

Later, Brown played a prominent role in the campaign surroondin the Scots unthirldom referendum o 2014, galvanisin support ahint mainteenin the union.[8] In 2017, Brown published his autobiografie, My Life, Our Times.[9]

References

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  1. Wintour, Patrick (24 September 2009). "Brown, a member of the Church of Scotland". The Guardian. London. Archived frae the original on 3 Mairch 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  2. Halligan, Liam (16 October 2006). "Brown's raid on pensions costs Britain £100 billion". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived frae the original on 9 Februar 2009. Retrieved 27 Februar 2009.
  3. Stewart, Heather (22 Julie 2002). "Pension blame falls on Brown". The Guardian. London. Archived frae the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  4. Dawar, Anil (21 Apryle 2008). "Q&A: 10p tax rate cut". The Guardian. London. Archived frae the original on 25 Apryle 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  5. Sherman, Jill; Yeoman, Fran; Hamilton, Fiona (6 Juin 2009). "Labour suffers wipeout in its worst local election results". The Times. London. Archived frae the original on 21 Mairch 2023. Retrieved 21 Juin 2009.
  6. "Labour slumps to historic defeat". London: BBC News. 8 Juin 2009. Archived frae the original on 10 Juin 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  7. Maddox, David (7 Mey 2010). "General Election 2010: Gordon's career is finished – Labour MP". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Archived frae the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  8. "A reborn Gordon Brown could be the man who saved the union". Financial Times.
  9. "Boom to bust: Gordon Brown's 'My Life, Our Times'". Financial Times.