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Portrait of Gordon Brown

Prime Ministers · 21st century

Gordon Brown

1951– · British (Scottish)

Labour

In office: 2007–2010

Gordon Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years under Tony Blair, the longest continuous tenure since the 1820s, before succeeding him as prime minister in 2007. His premiership was dominated by the 2008 financial crisis, when Britain nationalised Northern Rock, recapitalised its banks and hosted the 2009 London G20 summit. After the 2010 election produced a hung parliament he resigned, making way for the Cameron–Clegg coalition.

How to spot them

  • ▸Ten years as Chancellor; 'Prudence'
  • ▸The 2008 banking crisis; Northern Rock
  • ▸'The election that never was' (2007)
  • ▸The Gillian Duffy 'bigoted woman' microphone gaffe (2010)
  • ▸The Granita pact with Tony Blair

In office

Nationalisation of Northern Rock (2008)

The first UK bank run in over a century led to the bank being taken into public ownership

The 2008 bank recapitalisation plan (2008)

Government stakes in RBS and Lloyds; copied internationally, prompting his Commons slip that 'we not only saved the world'

The London G20 summit (2009)

World leaders agreed a large package of support for the global economy

'The election that never was' (2007)

Speculation about a snap autumn election he then called off

The 'bigoted woman' remark about Gillian Duffy (2010)

Caught on a live microphone in Rochdale during the election campaign

Official apology for the treatment of Alan Turing (2009)

Government apology after a public petition

Climate Change Act 2008 (2008)

Set the world's first legally binding national carbon reduction target

Key ideas

  • As Chancellor he gave the Bank of England independence (1997) and set the 'golden rule' on borrowing
  • His decision to sell much of Britain's gold reserves (1999–2002) was later criticised as 'Brown's Bottom'
  • Gave a celebrated late intervention for the No side in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum

Quick-fire facts

  • •Born in Giffnock in 1951 and raised in Kirkcaldy, the son of a Church of Scotland minister
  • •Entered the University of Edinburgh at 16 and later gained a PhD in history
  • •Lost the sight of his left eye after a school rugby injury
  • •Chancellor of the Exchequer 1997–2007
  • •Liberal Democrat Vince Cable quipped that he had gone 'from Stalin to Mr Bean'
  • •UN Special Envoy for Global Education since 2012; appointed a Companion of Honour in 2024
  • •Appointed UK Special Envoy on Global Finance and Cooperation in May 2026

Drill it — 7 cards

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Sources