The Prudence of Mr. Gordon Brown

Product Description A compelling book that examines Gordon Brown's rise to power, his years as Chancellor, and his dramatic decision to give the Bank of England independence "An essential read for anyone who wants to properly understand political and economic policy developments over the past 15 years and enjoy some good insights about the future."Neil Kinnock, Vice President of the European Commission and former leader of the Labour Party."For twenty years one of the most sceptical and authoritative voices on economic affairs in the British press."Robert Harris, best selling author."A splendidly vivid account of the background, outlook and record of the most powerful Chancellor of modern times."Anthony Howard, biographer and political commentator.The economic policy of new Labour has been fundamental to its success. Gordon Brown has been at the very heart of new Labour's economic policy since the late 1980s and has been highly instrumental in convincing both the British public and the City that a Labour government can run the economy responsibly. He has generally been a popular and well-respected Chancellor - during his early years in office, he was highly praised for his prudence and yet now, well into the second term of office many of the issues on which the Blair government was elected, such as health and education, have not yet been satisfactorily addressed, and Gordon Brown is now being criticised for what many see as his imprudence in handling the nationâ??s finances.Examining how successful Labourâ??s economic policy has really been, when allowing for the good fortune of a world-wide economic boom, Keegan provides insights into the policies of new Labour, Gordon Brown's rise to power, the impact of his policies and how future policies might influence the economy.Written by a well-known and highly respected journalist who has been close to the heart of politics in Britain for many years, and who is thus able to offer an insiderâ??s view of how policy developed in both opposition and the GovernmentExamines the professional relationships and private friction between Brown, other members of the Cabinet and the Bank of EnglandIncludes much previously unpublished materialWilliam Keegan is Associate Editor (since 1983) and Economics Editor (since 1977) of The Observer newspaper. A graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, he has previously held posts with the Financial Times, Daily Mail and Bank of England Economic Intelligence Department. He has sat on a range of advisory committees, including the BBC Advisory Committee on Business and Industrial Affairs, the Employment Institute Council and the Department of Economics Advisory Board, University of Cambridge. He is visiting Professor of Journalism at Sheffield University and is the author of a variety of successful books. Review "...is a judicious and balanced survey. It contains much well-sourced, inside information…" (The Observer, 14 September 2003) "…a scurrilous new book…" (Mail on Sunday, 28 September 2003)"…a unique insight into the Chancellor’s career…" (The Observer, 28 September 2003)“…a splendid new book…” (Sunday Telegraph, 5 October 2003)"…It will be quite a test of his [Brown] relationship with prudence. Theirs has been one of the great double acts of our time…" (The Daily Telegraph, 13 October 2003)"…This extremely important book explains very thoroughly the achievements and limitations of the Labour’s economic policy…" (New Statesman, 27 October 2003)"…provides an incisive new angle to the riddle that is Gordon Brown…" (The Herald, 18 October 2003)"…It may be a book about economics, but there was an almighty scrum at Politicos in Westminister on Tuesday night for The Prudence of Mr Gordon Brown..." (Independent 23 October 2003)"…this book will prove an indispensable starting point for serious historians of the 1997 Labour Government…" (Tribune, 17 October 2003)".... William Keegan's intelligent, chewy offering..." (The Scotsman, 18 October 2003)"