Gordon Brown's U.K. Economic Record: A Reassessment

Long before he became prime minister of the U.K. in 2007, Gordon Brown saw himself as a great leader-in-waiting and didn’t care who knew it. His self-regard didn’t diminish as the crash flattened the economy and made a mockery of his plans. In 2010 he was voted out of office after clinging on too long.

You could say Brown, a charmless bully and notoriously incompetent manager, had it coming. As Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007—in effect, Deputy Prime Minister to Tony Blair and, in Brown’s own mind, co-leader—he was in command of economic policy as the conditions for the collapse formed. He can’t deny responsibility. Even in his own Labour Party, few are willing to defend him.