Gordon Brown

James Gordon Brown, Ph.D was born 20 February 1951, Scotland and is the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK and a British Labour Party politician.

From 1983 to 2005 he was the MP for the constituency of Dunfermline East but following a reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies in Scotland he is now MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

It is widely held in the media Gordon Brown was appointed Chancellor as a result of a power brokerage agreement with his rival Blair. Brown has no economic training, yet did work in the shadow treasury jobs in opposition, and is known as the Iron Chancellor. On taking office as Chancellor, Brown sprang a surprise by giving the BoE (Bank of England) operational independence in conduct of monetary policy, and thus responsibility for setting interest rates

Brown has headed the Treasury since May 97, making him the longest continuously serving Chancellor since Nicholas Vansittart (1812-1823). He is regarded as the second most powerful member of the present UK government and is expected to assume the leadership of the Labour Party, and so become Prime Minister, before the end of the present parliament.

Gordon Brown was appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer on 2 May 1997. He has been the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath since 2005 and was the MP for Dunfermline East from 1983 to 2005. He was Opposition spokesperson on Treasury and Economic Affairs (Shadow Chancellor) from 1992.

Mr Brown was born in 1951 and educated at Kirkcaldy High School and Edinburgh University where he gained 1st Class Honours and a Doctorate. He was Rector of Edinburgh University and Chairman of the University Court between 1972 and 75. From 1976 to 80, Mr Brown lectured in Edinburgh University and then Caledonian University before taking up a post at Scottish TV (80 - 83).

After becoming an MP, Mr Brown was the Chair of the Labour Party Scottish Council (83 - 84). Before becoming Shadow Chancellor he held two senior posts on the Opposition front bench - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (87 - 89) and Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary (89 -92).

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

Outside of work, Mr Brown`s interests include football, tennis and film. His favoutire soccer side is

Results since 1992Election Constituency Party Votes(%) Position
General 2005 Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Labour 24278
(58.1%) 1
General 2001 Dunfermline East Labour 19487
(64.8%) 1
General 1997 Dunfermline East Labour 24441
(66.8%) 1
General 1992 Dunfermline East Labour 23692
(62.4%) 1

Current position
Chancellor of the exchequer (1997 - present)
Previous positions
Shadow chancellor of the exchequer (1992 - 1997)
Shadow secretary for trade and industry (1989 - 1992)
Shadow chief secretary, treasury (1987 - 1989)

In 2005 Chancellor Gordon Brown said he would rather watch a football (soccer) match than attend a cabinet meeting.
Mr Brown was appearing on television sports programme Soccer AM. He told of his love for his home team of Raith Rovers of Kirckaldy, which goes back to his youth when he used to sell programmes so he could get in free at half time. The chancellor said following Scotland to the World Cup had "not been the most enjoyable thing" but the atmosphere was "absolutely brilliant". He said he was in Spain when Scotland played Brazil and in Italy when they beat Sweden. Mr Brown appeared on the Sky Sports show, presented by Tim Lovejoy and Helen Chamberlain, in a slot called "Things I know about football".

He has said he has watched a number of games with the PM, but not an England Scotland game, in Downing Street.

He also has firm views on which female film star he prefers, picking Angelina Jolie over Jennifer Aniston.

According to Gordon Brown's wife, Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney should play him in a film of his life.
The chancellor, in an interview with New Woman magazine, also says he likes to wake up to the Arctic Monkeys.

Mr Brown, keen to show there is more to him than fiscal prudence, says that if he had not been an MP his dream job would have been as a football manager.

He is coy over the "briefs vs boxer" debate, saying he chooses "whatever comes to hand. But they're all M&S."