Gordon Brown/Timelines: Difference between revisions

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===Opposition 1983-97===
===Opposition 1983-97===
* 1983 Elected Member of Parliament for Dunfermline East as a member of the [[Labour Party]] under the leadership of Neil Kinnock.
* 1983 Elected [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]] for Dunfermline East as a member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] .
:(Maiden speech[http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1983-07-27a.1226.0&s=speaker%3A10068#g1239.0])
:(Maiden speech[http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1983-07-27a.1226.0&s=speaker%3A10068#g1239.0])
: [[Tony Blair/Catalogs#Kinnock, Neil|Neil Kinnock ]] replaces Michael Foot as leader of the Labour Party
* 1984 Brown attends Democratic National Convention on San Francisco
* 1984 Brown attends Democratic National Convention on San Francisco
''1987 General election: Conservative 46% 358 seats; Labour 30% 155 seats;  Liberal/SDP alliance 24% 10seats''
''1987 [[General election (UK)|General Election]]: Conservative 46% 358 seats; Labour 30% 155 seats;  Liberal/SDP alliance 24% 10seats''
* 1987 Brown appointed Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
* 1987 Appointed [[Shadow minister|Shadow]] Chief Secretary to the Treasury
* 1989 Appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
* 1989 Appointed [[Shadow minister|Shadow]] Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
''1992 General election: Conservative 42% 336 seats; Labour 34% 271 seats;  Liberal Democrats 18% 20seats''
''1992 [[General election (UK)|General Election]]: Conservative 42% 336 seats; Labour 34% 271 seats;  Liberal Democrats 18% 20seats''
: Brown appointed Shadow Chancellor
: Appointed [[Shadow minister|Shadow]] [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]
: John Smith replaces Neil Kinnock as Leader of the Opposition.
: [[Tony Blair/Catalogs#Smith, John|John Smith]] replaces Neil Kinnock as Leader of the [[Official Opposition (UK)|Opposition]].
* 1993 3-day visit to the United States and meeting with [[Alan Greenspan]].  
* 1993 3-day visit to the United States and meeting with [[Alan Greenspan]].  
* 1994 Death of John Smith
* 1994 Death of John Smith
: 31 May - Meeting with [[Tony Blair]] at the ''Granita'' restaurant
: 31 May - Meeting with [[Tony Blair]] at the ''Granita'' restaurant
: 8 September - Strategy conference at the ''Chewton Glen'' hotel
: 8 September - Strategy conference at the ''Chewton Glen'' hotel
''1997 General election: Labour 43% 418 seats; Conservative 31% 165 seats;  Liberal Democrats 17% 46seats''
''1997 [[General election (UK)|General Election]]: Labour 43% 418 seats; Conservative 31% 165 seats;  Liberal Democrats 17% 46seats''


===Chancellor of the Exchequer 1997-2007===
===Chancellor of the Exchequer 1997-2007===
====First term 1997-2001====
====First term 1997-2001====
* Bank of England Act 1998[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980011_en_1], gave the Bank responsibility for setting interest rates to meet the Government's stated inflation target.
* Bank of England Act 1998[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980011_en_1], gave the Bank responsibility for setting interest rates to meet the Government's stated inflation target.
* Five tests for Euro membership
* The Comprehensive Spending Review[http://archive.treasury.gov.uk/pub/html/efsr/chap1.htm] and Public Service Agreement System[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pbr_csr07_psaindex.htm ] system is introduced, replacing the former annual spending review  process with a longer-term (3-year) commitment, and setting performance targets.
* [[Gordon Brown/Addendum#The Euro: Gordon Brown's five tests|Five tests for Euro membership]]
* [[Fiscal policy/Addendum#The UK's Code for Fiscal Stability|Code for Fiscal Stability]]
* [[Fiscal policy/Addendum#The UK's Code for Fiscal Stability|Code for Fiscal Stability]]
* Pre-budget reports
* Gordon Brown introduces the first pre-budget report[http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_index.htm] -  (a progress report, an update of the state of the economy and public finances, and a statement of  Government policy in the run up to the spring Budget) after which they were published annually<ref>Pre-budget reports 1997-2009[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr09_index.htm ]</ref>.
* Budget 1997[http://archive.treasury.gov.uk/budget/1997/report/budget97.htm]
* Budget 1997[http://archive.treasury.gov.uk/budget/1997/report/budget97.htm]- corporation tax rate cut from 33% to 31% (23 -21 for small firms), windfall tax on private utilities, welfare-to-work scheme.
* Budget 1998[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/1998_budget_at_a_glance.htm]
* Budget 1998[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/1998_budget_at_a_glance.htm]- Working Families Tax Credit
* Budget 1999[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud99_index.htm]
* Comprehensive Spending Review
* Budget 1999[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud99_index.htm] - basic income tax rate reduced by 1p to 23p
* Budget 2000[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud00_index.htm]
* Budget 2000[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud00_index.htm]
* Financial Services and Markets Act 2000[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/en/ukpgaen_20000008_en_1.htm] Establishes the Financial Services Authority to combine the functions of 6 regulatory bodies
* Comprehensive Spending Review - extra £43 billion for public services in 2001-4
* Budget 2001[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud01_index.htm]
* Financial Services and Markets Act 2000[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/en/ukpgaen_20000008_en_1.htm] established the Financial Services Authority to combine the functions of 6 regulatory bodies - supplemented by a three-party  memorandum of understanding [http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/financialstability/mou.pdf]
* Budget 2001[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud01_index.htm] - more money for health and education. Increase in child tax credit
''2001 General election: Labour 40% 413 seats; Conservative 32% 166 seats;  Liberal Democrats 18% 52seats''
''2001 General election: Labour 40% 413 seats; Conservative 32% 166 seats;  Liberal Democrats 18% 52seats''
====Second term 2002-2005 ====
====Second term 2002-2005 ====
* Budget 2002[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud02_index.htm]
* Budget 2002[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud02_index.htm]
* Enterprise Act 2002[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/en/ukpgaen_20020040_en_1] gives political independence and additional investigatory and punitive powers to the competition authorities
* Enterprise Act 2002[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/en/ukpgaen_20020040_en_1] gives political independence and additional investigatory and punitive powers to the [[Competition policy|competition authorities]]
* Budget 2003[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud03_index.htm]
* Budget 2003[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud03_index.htm]
* November 2003: Admiralty House meeting with Tony Blair at which an agreement concerning Gordon Brown's succession as PM<ref> Tony Blair: ''A Journey'', page 497, Hutchinson, 2010</ref>
* Budget 2004[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud04_index.htm]
* Budget 2004[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud04_index.htm]
* Report of Gershon Review of efficiency in the public services[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/efficiency_review120704.pdf]
* Budget 2005[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud05_index.htm]
* Budget 2005[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud05_index.htm]
: Better Regulation Commission[http://archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/brc/about_us.html]
: Better Regulation Commission[http://archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/brc/about_us.html]
* Gleneagles Summit 2005[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page7883]
* Gleneagles Summit 2005[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page7883] G8 leaders under Gordon Brown's chairmanship agree  to double aid for Africa by 2010.
''2005 General election: Labour 35% 356 seats; Conservative 32% 198 seats;  Liberal Democrats 22% 62 seats''
''2005 General election: Labour 35% 356 seats; Conservative 32% 198 seats;  Liberal Democrats 22% 62 seats''


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===Prime Minister 2007-2010 ===
===Prime Minister 2007-2010 ===
====2007====
====2007====
* June  Tony Blair retires, Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister and Alastair Darling becomes Chancellor of the Exchequer.
* June. [[Tony Blair]] retires, Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister and [[Alistair Darling]] becomes [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]].
* November [[credit crunch]] begins as  UK banking system suffers losses as a result of the [[subprime mortgage crisis]][http://www.economist.com/theworldin/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10091760]
: Gordon Brown proposes the transfer to Parliament of parts of the Royal Prerogative powers that are exercised by the Prime Minister[http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=40737]
* July. ''The Governance of Britain''[http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm71/7170/7170.pdf]: a government Green Paper that proposes a transfer of power from the Executive to Parliament, and increases in its accountability to Parliament
* September. [[Run (banking)|Run]] on the ''Northern Rock'' ban; the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] authorises [[liquidity]] support.
* November. Policy speeches
: Speech on foreign policy[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20071104170014/http://number10.gov.uk/output/Page13736.asp]. Included "a new framework for security and reconstruction", "new initiatives in non-proliferation" and "the renewal of the international institutions".
: Speech on climate change[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20071104170014/http://number10.gov.uk/output/Page13791.asp]. A proposal for a global carbon market.
* November. A [[credit crunch]] begins as  the UK banking system suffers losses as a result of the [[subprime mortgage crisis]][http://www.economist.com/theworldin/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10091760]
 
====2008====
====2008====
* February  The ''Northern Rock'' bank is "nationalised'' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7249575.stm].
* February.   The ''Northern Rock'' bank is "nationalised'' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7249575.stm].
* April  Bank of England announces its ''Special Liquidity Scheme'' to allow banks to swap some of their [[Liquidity|illiquid]] assets for liquid Treasury [[Bills]] for up to three years [http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/sls/sls-information.pdf].
* March. ''The Governance of Britain - Constitutional Renewal''[http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/constitutional-renewal-white-paper.pdf]. White Paper on government proposals including Parliamentary powers concerning the ratification of treaties and the deployment of the armed forces
* September collapse of the United States ''Lehman Brothers'' [[investment bank]] triggers the [[crash of 2008/Timelines#The Crash stage 3 (September - December 2008)|culmination]] of the  financial [[crash of 2008]]
* April. Bank of England announces its ''Special Liquidity Scheme'' to allow banks to swap some of their [[Liquidity|illiquid]] assets for liquid Treasury [[Bills]] for up to three years [http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/sls/sls-information.pdf].
* October  £500 billion bank rescue plan <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7658277.stm Rescue Plan for UK Banks Unveiled, BBC News 8 October 2008]</ref> <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7658307.stm  ''Government statement on financial support'' 8 October 2008]</ref> including powers to take [[equity (finance)|equity]] stakes in ailing banks and an unlimited undertaking to guarantee bank loans.
* September.
* October visits to Paris and Washington: Britain's bank rescue plan adopted in the EU and the USA<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/opinion/13krugman.html Paul Krugman: ''Gordon Does Good'', New York Times, October 12 2008]</ref>
: The collapse of the United States ''Lehman Brothers'' [[investment bank]] triggers the [[crash of 2008/Timelines#The Crash stage 3 (September - December 2008)|culminating stage]] of the  financial [[crash of 2008]]
* November The head of the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] asks for a coordinated [[fiscal stimulus]] of 2 per cent of GDP[http://www.imf.org/external/np/tr/2008/tr081115.htm]
: New York visit. Discussions with President Bush and Tim Geithner (President, New York Fed) about the need for bank recapitalisation
* November Chancellor Darling announces a £20 billion [[fiscal stimulus]] including a temporary reduction in [[Taxation#Taxes on consumption|value added tax]] (amounting to about 1 per cent of GDP)[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr08_index.htm]; and suspends the [[Fiscal policy/Addendum#The UK's Code for Fiscal Stability|code for fiscal stability]].
::Speech to the United Nations[http://www.un.org/en/ga/63/generaldebate/pdf/uk_en.pdf] on the need for concerted action.
* October.
: The government launches a £500 billion bank rescue plan <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7658277.stm Rescue Plan for UK Banks Unveiled, BBC News 8 October 2008]</ref> <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7658307.stm  ''Government statement on financial support'' 8 October 2008]</ref> including powers to take [[equity (finance)|equity]] stakes in ailing banks and an unlimited undertaking to guarantee bank loans.
: Paris meetings with  President Sarkozy, Chancellor Merkel and Prime Ministers Berlusconi and Barroso.
: Britain's bank rescue plan is adopted in the EU and the USA<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/opinion/13krugman.html Paul Krugman: ''Gordon Does Good'', New York Times, October 12 2008]</ref>
* November.
: The head of the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] asks for a coordinated [[fiscal stimulus]] of 2 per cent of GDP[http://www.imf.org/external/np/tr/2008/tr081115.htm]
: Chancellor Darling announces a £20 billion [[fiscal stimulus]] including a temporary reduction in [[Taxation#Taxes on consumption|value added tax]] (amounting to about 1 per cent of GDP)[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr08_index.htm]; and suspends the [[Fiscal policy/Addendum#The UK's Code for Fiscal Stability|code for fiscal stability]].
: [[G20 summit#Washington summit|Washington summit]] of [[G20]] agrees to take whatever further actions are necessary to stabilize the financial system, and use monetary policy and fiscal measures to stimulate domestic demand while maintaining a policy framework conducive to fiscal sustainability (but leaders fail to agree to coordinate their measures).
 
====2009====
====2009====
* January  The Chancellor authorises the [[Bank of England]] to set up a Treasury-financed ''Asset Purchase Facility'' to buy high-quality assets for the purpose of [[quantitative easing]] operations [http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/apf/].
* January. The Chancellor authorises the [[Bank of England]] to set up a Treasury-financed ''Asset Purchase Facility'' to buy high-quality assets for the purpose of [[quantitative easing]] operations [http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/apf/].
* April  [[G20 summit]]
* April. [[G20 summit#London summit|London G20 summit]]
* May. An IMF team expresses confidence in the government's policies and concludes that "...we expect the authorities to deliver domestic and external stability  and set the stage for a sustainable recovery"[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ukecon_imf_articleIV2009.htm].
* September Financial Services Bill [http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-084.pdf]
* October. The end of the [[recession]] and the beginning of a gradual recovery.
* December. Gordon Brown addresses the Copenhagen Conference on climate change[http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2255214/gordon-brown-copenhagen-speech][http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-087.pdf.]
 
====2010====
====2010====
* February  ''Fiscal Responsibility Act''<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/en/ukpgaen_20100003_en.pdf Fiscal Responsibility Act, Stationery Office, February 2010]</ref> - imposes a duty on the Treasury to ensure that by the financial year ending 2014 public sector net borrowing as a percentage of GDP is at least halved from its level for the financial year ending 2010, and to make continuing reductions thereafter.
* February. The ''Fiscal Responsibility Act''<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/en/ukpgaen_20100003_en.pdf Fiscal Responsibility Act, Stationery Office, February 2010]</ref> - imposes a duty on the Treasury to ensure that by the financial year ending 2014 public sector net borrowing as a percentage of GDP is at least halved from its level for the financial year ending 2010, and to make continuing reductions thereafter.
* February  Northern Ireland devolution  
* February. The ''Hillsborough Castle  Agreement'' on the continuation of Northern Ireland devolution [http://www.nio.gov.uk/agreement_at_hillsborough_castle_5_february_2010.pdf]
* May  General election defeat and resignation
* April. ''Constitutional Reform and Governance Act''[http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/constitutional-reform.htm]: provides for the Parliamentary scrutiny of treaties before ratification. (Other proposals in the original Bill were abandoned)
''2010 General election Conservative 36% 306 seats; Liberal Democrats 23% 57 seats, Labour 29% 258 seats''.
* May. The Labour Party loses power in the general election and Gordon Brown resigns as Prime Minister.
''2010 General election: Conservative 36% 306 seats; Liberal Democrats 23% 57 seats, Labour 29% 258 seats''.


===Opposition===
===Opposition===


==Awards and appointments==
==Awards and appointments==
* Membership of the Privy Council 1996.
* Chair of the [[International Monetary and Finance Committee]] 1999-2007
* Chair of the [[International Monetary and Finance Committee]] 1999-2007
* World Statesman Award 2009 [http://www.appealofconscience.org/news/article.cfm?id=100222] by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation


==Personal history==
==Personal history==
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*1966 Passes Higher School Certificate (A-level equivalent) examinations with 5 A grades  
*1966 Passes Higher School Certificate (A-level equivalent) examinations with 5 A grades  
*1967 Starts at Edinburgh University
*1967 Starts at Edinburgh University
*: becomes a serious  Rugby player, but sporting career is ended by an accident in which he loses the sight of his left eye
*: becomes a serious  Rugby player, but sporting career is ended by an accident in which he loses the sight of his left eye[http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/dec/24gordon.htm]
*1970 Awarded a Master of Arts (with 1st class honours)
*1970 Awarded a Master of Arts (with 1st class honours)
*1973 Elected Student Rector, Edinburgh University
*1973 Elected Student Rector, Edinburgh University
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*1983: Selected as prospective parliamentary candidate for Dunfermline East - and elected to parliament  
*1983: Selected as prospective parliamentary candidate for Dunfermline East - and elected to parliament  
*1996: Appointed Member of Privy Council
*1996: Appointed Member of Privy Council
*2000: Marriage to Sarah Macaulay
*2000: Marriage to Sarah Macaulay[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/who-is-sarah-brown-451300.html]
*2001: Birth of daughter, Jennifer Jane
*2002: Death of Jennifer Jane
*2004: Birth of first son, James Macaulay[http://news.scotsman.com/gordonbrownsfamily/Chancellors-daughter-remembered-at-christening.2522714.jp]
*2006: Birth in July of second son, James Frazer, found in November to be suffering from cystic fibrosis[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6157891.stm]
*2010: Decides to devote himself to 3 world charities[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/gordon-brown/7978019/Gordon-Brown-announces-charity-work-plans.html.]


==References==
==References==


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 10:25, 11 January 2011

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A timeline (or several) relating to Gordon Brown.

Parliamentary Career

Opposition 1983-97

(Maiden speech[2])
Neil Kinnock replaces Michael Foot as leader of the Labour Party
  • 1984 Brown attends Democratic National Convention on San Francisco

1987 General Election: Conservative 46% 358 seats; Labour 30% 155 seats; Liberal/SDP alliance 24% 10seats

  • 1987 Appointed Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  • 1989 Appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

1992 General Election: Conservative 42% 336 seats; Labour 34% 271 seats; Liberal Democrats 18% 20seats

Appointed Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
John Smith replaces Neil Kinnock as Leader of the Opposition.
  • 1993 3-day visit to the United States and meeting with Alan Greenspan.
  • 1994 Death of John Smith
31 May - Meeting with Tony Blair at the Granita restaurant
8 September - Strategy conference at the Chewton Glen hotel

1997 General Election: Labour 43% 418 seats; Conservative 31% 165 seats; Liberal Democrats 17% 46seats

Chancellor of the Exchequer 1997-2007

First term 1997-2001

  • Bank of England Act 1998[3], gave the Bank responsibility for setting interest rates to meet the Government's stated inflation target.
  • The Comprehensive Spending Review[4] and Public Service Agreement System[5] system is introduced, replacing the former annual spending review process with a longer-term (3-year) commitment, and setting performance targets.
  • Five tests for Euro membership
  • Code for Fiscal Stability
  • Gordon Brown introduces the first pre-budget report[6] - (a progress report, an update of the state of the economy and public finances, and a statement of Government policy in the run up to the spring Budget) after which they were published annually[1].
  • Budget 1997[7]- corporation tax rate cut from 33% to 31% (23 -21 for small firms), windfall tax on private utilities, welfare-to-work scheme.
  • Budget 1998[8]- Working Families Tax Credit
  • Comprehensive Spending Review
  • Budget 1999[9] - basic income tax rate reduced by 1p to 23p
  • Budget 2000[10]
  • Comprehensive Spending Review - extra £43 billion for public services in 2001-4
  • Financial Services and Markets Act 2000[11] established the Financial Services Authority to combine the functions of 6 regulatory bodies - supplemented by a three-party memorandum of understanding [12]
  • Budget 2001[13] - more money for health and education. Increase in child tax credit

2001 General election: Labour 40% 413 seats; Conservative 32% 166 seats; Liberal Democrats 18% 52seats

Second term 2002-2005

  • Budget 2002[14]
  • Enterprise Act 2002[15] gives political independence and additional investigatory and punitive powers to the competition authorities
  • Budget 2003[16]
  • November 2003: Admiralty House meeting with Tony Blair at which an agreement concerning Gordon Brown's succession as PM[2]
  • Budget 2004[17]
  • Report of Gershon Review of efficiency in the public services[18]
  • Budget 2005[19]
Better Regulation Commission[20]
  • Gleneagles Summit 2005[21] G8 leaders under Gordon Brown's chairmanship agree to double aid for Africa by 2010.

2005 General election: Labour 35% 356 seats; Conservative 32% 198 seats; Liberal Democrats 22% 62 seats

Third term 2005-07

Prime Minister 2007-2010

2007

Gordon Brown proposes the transfer to Parliament of parts of the Royal Prerogative powers that are exercised by the Prime Minister[24]
  • July. The Governance of Britain[25]: a government Green Paper that proposes a transfer of power from the Executive to Parliament, and increases in its accountability to Parliament
  • September. Run on the Northern Rock ban; the Chancellor of the Exchequer authorises liquidity support.
  • November. Policy speeches
Speech on foreign policy[26]. Included "a new framework for security and reconstruction", "new initiatives in non-proliferation" and "the renewal of the international institutions".
Speech on climate change[27]. A proposal for a global carbon market.

2008

  • February. The Northern Rock bank is "nationalised [29].
  • March. The Governance of Britain - Constitutional Renewal[30]. White Paper on government proposals including Parliamentary powers concerning the ratification of treaties and the deployment of the armed forces
  • April. Bank of England announces its Special Liquidity Scheme to allow banks to swap some of their illiquid assets for liquid Treasury Bills for up to three years [31].
  • September.
The collapse of the United States Lehman Brothers investment bank triggers the culminating stage of the financial crash of 2008
New York visit. Discussions with President Bush and Tim Geithner (President, New York Fed) about the need for bank recapitalisation
Speech to the United Nations[32] on the need for concerted action.
  • October.
The government launches a £500 billion bank rescue plan [3] [4] including powers to take equity stakes in ailing banks and an unlimited undertaking to guarantee bank loans.
Paris meetings with President Sarkozy, Chancellor Merkel and Prime Ministers Berlusconi and Barroso.
Britain's bank rescue plan is adopted in the EU and the USA[5]
  • November.
The head of the IMF asks for a coordinated fiscal stimulus of 2 per cent of GDP[33]
Chancellor Darling announces a £20 billion fiscal stimulus including a temporary reduction in value added tax (amounting to about 1 per cent of GDP)[34]; and suspends the code for fiscal stability.
Washington summit of G20 agrees to take whatever further actions are necessary to stabilize the financial system, and use monetary policy and fiscal measures to stimulate domestic demand while maintaining a policy framework conducive to fiscal sustainability (but leaders fail to agree to coordinate their measures).

2009

  • January. The Chancellor authorises the Bank of England to set up a Treasury-financed Asset Purchase Facility to buy high-quality assets for the purpose of quantitative easing operations [35].
  • April. London G20 summit
  • May. An IMF team expresses confidence in the government's policies and concludes that "...we expect the authorities to deliver domestic and external stability and set the stage for a sustainable recovery"[36].
  • September Financial Services Bill [37]
  • October. The end of the recession and the beginning of a gradual recovery.
  • December. Gordon Brown addresses the Copenhagen Conference on climate change[38][39]

2010

  • February. The Fiscal Responsibility Act[6] - imposes a duty on the Treasury to ensure that by the financial year ending 2014 public sector net borrowing as a percentage of GDP is at least halved from its level for the financial year ending 2010, and to make continuing reductions thereafter.
  • February. The Hillsborough Castle Agreement on the continuation of Northern Ireland devolution [40]
  • April. Constitutional Reform and Governance Act[41]: provides for the Parliamentary scrutiny of treaties before ratification. (Other proposals in the original Bill were abandoned)
  • May. The Labour Party loses power in the general election and Gordon Brown resigns as Prime Minister.

2010 General election: Conservative 36% 306 seats; Liberal Democrats 23% 57 seats, Labour 29% 258 seats.

Opposition

Awards and appointments

Personal history

  • 1951 Born, Glasgow, Son of John Brown, a Presbeterian church minister
  • 1954 The family move to Kirkaldy
  • 1961 Starts at Kirkaldy High School
  • 1966 Passes Higher School Certificate (A-level equivalent) examinations with 5 A grades
  • 1967 Starts at Edinburgh University
    becomes a serious Rugby player, but sporting career is ended by an accident in which he loses the sight of his left eye[43]
  • 1970 Awarded a Master of Arts (with 1st class honours)
  • 1973 Elected Student Rector, Edinburgh University
    Becomes a member of the Scottish Labour Party's National Executive
  • 1976: Politics lecturer, Glasgow College of Technology
    Selected as prospective parliamentary candidate for Edinburgh South
  • 1980: Journalist (current affairs) Scottish Television
  • 1982: Doctor of Philosophy, Edinburgh University
  • 1983: Selected as prospective parliamentary candidate for Dunfermline East - and elected to parliament
  • 1996: Appointed Member of Privy Council
  • 2000: Marriage to Sarah Macaulay[44]
  • 2001: Birth of daughter, Jennifer Jane
  • 2002: Death of Jennifer Jane
  • 2004: Birth of first son, James Macaulay[45]
  • 2006: Birth in July of second son, James Frazer, found in November to be suffering from cystic fibrosis[46]
  • 2010: Decides to devote himself to 3 world charities[47]

References