Gordon Brown: From talented boy to British PM

Source: Xinhuanet | 06-28-2007 08:43

LONDON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- After 24 years in politics, British prime minister, Gordon Brown on Wednesday became British prime minister when he took over from Tony Blair as leader of the Labour Party.

Brown was born on Feb. 20, 1951, near Glasgow, Scotland. His father was a Church of Scotland minister. At the age of 16, he was admitted into the Edinburgh University, where he acquired a first-class degree in history and then a doctorate.

His gift for leadership came to be known while he was still a student. In 1972, Brown was elected rector of Edinburgh University and chairman of the University Court. He joined the Labour Party at the age of 18.

Brown served as a temporary lecturer at the university before working as a lecturer in politics at the Glasgow College of Technology from 1976 to 1980. He took the job as a journalist at the Scottish TV and later a current affairs editor until his election to parliament in 1983.

However, Brown failed in his first bid for national politics. In the 1979 general election, he lost to a Conservative candidate.

Brown was elected on his second attempt as a Labour MP for Dunfermline East in 1983, the same year as Blair. He then built his career up to the leadership in the Labour's 18 years of opposition.

Before becoming Shadow Chancellor, Brown held two other senior posts on the opposition front bench -- Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987 - 1989) and Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary(1989 -1992).

After the sudden death of former Labour leader John Smith in May 1994, Brown was one of those tipped as a potential successor. The other was Blair.

It has long been rumored that a deal was struck between Blair and Brown, in which Blair promised to make Brown treasury chief, the country's No. 2 job, in return for Brown not standing against him in the leadership election.

Brown was appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer in charge of finance in 1997 after the Labour won the general election, which sent Blair to Downing Street No. 10.

During his ten-year service as finance minister, the longest without interruption in the British history, Brown was credited with leading his country into sustained economic growth for a decade, but opponents said it was actually based on the achievements of the previous Conservative government.

On taking office as Chancellor, Brown gave the Bank of England operational independence to set interest rates, a striking policy move.

In October 2004 Blair announced he would not lead the party into a fourth general election, but would serve a full third term.Political controversy over the relationship between Brown and Blair continued up to and beyond the 2005 election.

Blair, under the pressure from within his own party, finally said in May that he would step down on June 27.

Brown married public relations executive Sarah Macaulay in 2000. In 2001, their first daughter was born prematurely and died ten days later. The couple now has two sons.

Brown has had a number of works published including Maxton, ThePolitics of Nationalism and Devolution, and Where There is Greed. He has edited a number of books including John Smith: Life and Soul of the Party and Values, Visions and Voices.

Brown's hobby includes football, tennis and film.

Editor:Du Xiaodan