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[[Image:Gordon Brown.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Gordon Brown]]

[[Image:Gordon Brown.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Gordon Brown]]

'''James Gordon Brown''', generally known as '''Gordon Brown''', is a Scottish [[Labour Party|Labour]] politician who has served as Britain's [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] since 1997. His mutual enmity with Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] has been a consistent feature of British political life for a number of years, and he is to take over as Prime Minister when Tony Blair retires on 27 June 2007.

'''James Gordon Brown''', generally known as '''Gordon Brown''', is the current Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]]. He succeeded [[Tony Blair]] on June 27, 2007.

 

A Scottish [[Labour Party|Labour]] politician, he served as Britain's [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] for ten years. His mutual enmity with former Prime Minister Blair was been a consistent feature of British political life for a number of years.

In Britain, Brown is seen as being a more somber, sober and serious figure in contrast to Tony Blair, who is regarded as charismatic and has at times been perceived as lightweight and as an overly "slick" media performer (not unlike [[Bill Clinton]]). This resonates with a stereotype that many English people have of Scottish people being humorless and dour. Brown's father was a Minister in the [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] [[Church of Scotland]], and it is thought that Brown's religious beliefs have influenced his serious, sober style. On the negative side, some believe that he is insufficiently likeable and sunny to appeal to voters. He has also been criticized for secretiveness, a lack of openness, and control-freakery.

In Britain, Brown is seen as being a more somber, sober and serious figure in contrast to Tony Blair, who is regarded as charismatic and has at times been perceived as lightweight and as an overly "slick" media performer (not unlike [[Bill Clinton]]). This resonates with a stereotype that many English people have of Scottish people being humorless and dour. Brown's father was a Minister in the [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] [[Church of Scotland]], and it is thought that Brown's religious beliefs have influenced his serious, sober style. On the negative side, some believe that he is insufficiently likeable and sunny to appeal to voters. He has also been criticized for secretiveness, a lack of openness, and control-freakery.

Brown is one of the longest serving Chancellors in history, and has taken credit for the consistently healthy state of the British economy during his tenure. He is a passionate advocate of reducing poverty in the [[Third World]]. He has also acquired a reputation for being strongly patriotic, following speeches in which he has praised the concept of "Britishness" and suggested that Britons should display the British flag outside their houses, as many Americans do with the US flag. However, his patriotic convictions are expected to have consequences in foreign policy which are arguably negative: it is widely believed that he will be zealous in defending British interests (narrowly defined), but that he will neglect broader elements of Tony Blair's foreign policy such as support for the United States and the [[War on Terror]].

Brown was one of the longest serving Chancellors in history, and has taken credit for the consistently healthy state of the British economy during his tenure. He is a passionate advocate of reducing poverty in the [[Third World]]. He has also acquired a reputation for being strongly patriotic, following speeches in which he has praised the concept of "Britishness" and suggested that Britons should display the British flag outside their houses, as many Americans do with the US flag. However, his patriotic convictions are expected to have consequences in foreign policy which are arguably negative: it is widely believed that he will be zealous in defending British interests (narrowly defined), but that he will neglect broader elements of Tony Blair's foreign policy such as support for the United States and the [[War on Terror]].

During Brown's tenure as Chancellor, the UK has enjoyed sustained economic growth and generally positive reports from the IMF, although there were concerns at extreme inflationary pressures in the housing market. At the same time, he has followed a generally redistributionary policy, increasing spending in the [[National Health Service]] and [[education]], whilst giving tax breaks to poorer families. His most significant achievement in the early days of the Labour Government was to grant fiscal independence to the Bank of England.

During Brown's tenure as Chancellor, the UK enjoyed sustained economic growth and generally positive reports from the Internation Monetary Fund, although there were concerns at extreme inflationary pressures in the housing market. At the same time, he has followed a generally redistributionary policy, increasing spending in the [[National Health Service]] and [[education]], whilst giving tax breaks to poorer families. His most significant achievement in the early days of the Labour Government was to grant fiscal independence to the Bank of England.

==See also==

==See also==

http://www.imf.org/external/country/GBR/index.htm

http://www.imf.org/external/country/GBR/index.htm

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Gordon}}

[[category:political people]]

 

[[category:Scottish People]]

[[category:political people|Brown, Gordon]]

[[category:Scottish People|Brown, Gordon]]