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| Gordon Brown memoir to 'reflect candidly' on Blair government | Gordon Brown memoir to 'reflect candidly' on Blair government |
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| Gordon Brown is expected to shed light on his tumultuous relationship with Tony Blair in a memoir that his publishers said would cover “his entire life in politics” as well as “big ideas for today”. | Gordon Brown is expected to shed light on his tumultuous relationship with Tony Blair in a memoir that his publishers said would cover “his entire life in politics” as well as “big ideas for today”. |
| Due out this autumn, the as-yet untitled book was acquired by The Bodley Head for an undisclosed sum. It will draw on Brown’s 10 years as chancellor from 1997 and his handling of the global financial crisis in 2008 after becoming prime minister. | Due out this autumn, the as-yet untitled book was acquired by The Bodley Head for an undisclosed sum. It will draw on Brown’s 10 years as chancellor from 1997 and his handling of the global financial crisis in 2008 after becoming prime minister. |
| Its contents are being kept under wraps for the moment, but his publishers said the memoir would reflect candidly on the Blair government, as well as his own brief premiership. The former chancellor, the longest serving in UK history, will also cast a critical eye on relationships in Westminster, the coalition negotiations of 2010 and global conflicts including the Blair government’s role in the Iraq war. | Its contents are being kept under wraps for the moment, but his publishers said the memoir would reflect candidly on the Blair government, as well as his own brief premiership. The former chancellor, the longest serving in UK history, will also cast a critical eye on relationships in Westminster, the coalition negotiations of 2010 and global conflicts including the Blair government’s role in the Iraq war. |
| As well as being crucial to Labour’s return to power in 1997, Brown took a lead role in the referendum over Scottish independence and was active in opposing Britain’s exit from the EU in last year’s vote. The book promises to offer “vital lessons for the future”. He will also reflect on recent changes within the Labour party. | |
| Announcing the memoir, Brown said he hoped to “shed light on the tumultuous change we are now facing and to offer insights that may be useful in furthering the cause of progressive politics”. He added: “Above all, I hope to inspire confidence that we can meet these fresh challenges with a renewed sense of shared values and purpose.” | Announcing the memoir, Brown said he hoped to “shed light on the tumultuous change we are now facing and to offer insights that may be useful in furthering the cause of progressive politics”. He added: “Above all, I hope to inspire confidence that we can meet these fresh challenges with a renewed sense of shared values and purpose.” |
| Agent Jonny Geller, who brokered the deal, said: “It presents the life and thinking of a man of deep principle and intellect as well as a reminder of what can be achieved by progressive politics.” | Agent Jonny Geller, who brokered the deal, said: “It presents the life and thinking of a man of deep principle and intellect as well as a reminder of what can be achieved by progressive politics.” |
| The book will reflect a more personal journey than his 2010 account of the 2008 economic crisis, Beyond the Crash. As well as an account of his role in frontline politics, the new memoir will reveal details of his upbringing in Kirkcaldy as the son of a Church of Scotland minister, and the accident during a rugby game when he was 16 that left him blind in one eye. | The book will reflect a more personal journey than his 2010 account of the 2008 economic crisis, Beyond the Crash. As well as an account of his role in frontline politics, the new memoir will reveal details of his upbringing in Kirkcaldy as the son of a Church of Scotland minister, and the accident during a rugby game when he was 16 that left him blind in one eye. |
| The memoir will also cover the loss of his daughter Jennifer, who died within days of her birth. Proceeds from the book will go to the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, which was founded in his daughter’s name, as well as the children’s charity Theirworld, which was started by Brown’s wife Sarah. | The memoir will also cover the loss of his daughter Jennifer, who died within days of her birth. Proceeds from the book will go to the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, which was founded in his daughter’s name, as well as the children’s charity Theirworld, which was started by Brown’s wife Sarah. |
| Brown has largely kept quiet about his relationship with Blair and the bitter rift that formed between the two during their period in office. Commentators will be hopeful that he finally reveals his side of one of the most important political double acts in recent history. | Brown has largely kept quiet about his relationship with Blair and the bitter rift that formed between the two during their period in office. Commentators will be hopeful that he finally reveals his side of one of the most important political double acts in recent history. |
| Brown and Blair were widely reported to have formed a pact in the Granita restaurant in Islington, north London, in 1994, following the sudden death of Labour leader John Smith. Under the deal – dubbed the Granita Pact – Brown agreed not to stand for leader to allow Blair an easier run for the role. In return, Blair would grant Brown wide powers over domestic policy if Labour won a general election. | Brown and Blair were widely reported to have formed a pact in the Granita restaurant in Islington, north London, in 1994, following the sudden death of Labour leader John Smith. Under the deal – dubbed the Granita Pact – Brown agreed not to stand for leader to allow Blair an easier run for the role. In return, Blair would grant Brown wide powers over domestic policy if Labour won a general election. |
| Once in power, relations between the two soured, with stories of Brown flinging telephones across his office in frustration. His entry to No 10 was marred by indecision and the wider global economic collapse. | Once in power, relations between the two soured, with stories of Brown flinging telephones across his office in frustration. His entry to No 10 was marred by indecision and the wider global economic collapse. |
| Brown has previously seemed reluctant to write his memoirs, despite the efforts of his previous political foes Blair and Peter Mandelson. In 2010, he told the Guardian: “I am not saying ‘never’ but I am better concentrating on the things I am doing.” | Brown has previously seemed reluctant to write his memoirs, despite the efforts of his previous political foes Blair and Peter Mandelson. In 2010, he told the Guardian: “I am not saying ‘never’ but I am better concentrating on the things I am doing.” |