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Gordon Brown’s experience will be missed when he quits as MP Gordon Brown’s experience will be missed when he quits as MP
(about 1 hour later)
We can’t blame Gordon Brown if he confirms in the next few days that he will stand down as an MP at the May general election. He’s done his national service and reached the top of the greasy pole of politics. He will be 64 and has taken quite a beating, not least from himself, I suspect, since his premiership crumbled under immense pressure in 2010.We can’t blame Gordon Brown if he confirms in the next few days that he will stand down as an MP at the May general election. He’s done his national service and reached the top of the greasy pole of politics. He will be 64 and has taken quite a beating, not least from himself, I suspect, since his premiership crumbled under immense pressure in 2010.
But we can and should regret his departure from the Commons. Thirty-one years an MP – he was first elected in Margaret Thatcher’s “Falklands landslide” victory of 1983 – he has vast experience, which should be on tap to guide and warn his successors. Nowadays far too many people get their hands on the steering wheel of state while still wearing their political L-plates. It shows.But we can and should regret his departure from the Commons. Thirty-one years an MP – he was first elected in Margaret Thatcher’s “Falklands landslide” victory of 1983 – he has vast experience, which should be on tap to guide and warn his successors. Nowadays far too many people get their hands on the steering wheel of state while still wearing their political L-plates. It shows.
What does the record tell us about his decision? It’s in keeping with recent practice, but not with the habits of generations past. Tony Blair fled the scene after 10 years at No 10, resigning as an MP to make money. His career as an elder statesman, international do-gooder and charity sponsor has been sullied by the money.What does the record tell us about his decision? It’s in keeping with recent practice, but not with the habits of generations past. Tony Blair fled the scene after 10 years at No 10, resigning as an MP to make money. His career as an elder statesman, international do-gooder and charity sponsor has been sullied by the money.
William Hague is leaving too, at 54. A more serious parliamentarian, he may be the greater loss since neither Blair nor Brown took the Commons seriously, certainly not as much as Thatcher, though she fled too. It didn’t used to be like this. William Hague is leaving too, at 54. A more serious parliamentarian, he may be the greater loss as neither Blair nor Brown took the Commons seriously, certainly not as much as Thatcher, though she fled too. It didn’t use to be like this.
One hundred years ago, Arthur Balfour, the overly detached Tory who succeeded his uncle, Lord Salisbury, as prime minister (1902-5) was still an MP, yet to become foreign secretary (1916-19) in the war-winning Lloyd George coalition and was still in cabinet until 1929 – a year before his death at 81. The 1917 Balfour Declaration in favour of a Jewish national homeland is his, so he is not forgotten either. One hundred years ago, Arthur Balfour, the overly detached Tory who succeeded his uncle Lord Salisbury as prime minister (1902-5), was still an MP, yet to become foreign secretary (1916-19) in the war-winning Lloyd George coalition and was still in cabinet until 1929 – a year before his death at 81. The 1917 Balfour Declaration in favour of a Jewish national homeland is his, so he is not forgotten either.
I know it is all a long time ago, but well within living memory Alec Douglas-Home did the same. Having used Tony Benn’s rejection of the peerage legislation – the law of unintended consequences dogged Benn’s career – to become prime minister in the Profumo storm of 1963, the 14th Earl of Home became a life peer (Lord Home) after his defeat by Labour’s Harold Wilson in 1964 and served as Ted Heath’s foreign secretary from 1970-74. Having been Neville Chamberlain’s bagman at Munich, he was tough on the Russians to make up for early errors of appeasement.I know it is all a long time ago, but well within living memory Alec Douglas-Home did the same. Having used Tony Benn’s rejection of the peerage legislation – the law of unintended consequences dogged Benn’s career – to become prime minister in the Profumo storm of 1963, the 14th Earl of Home became a life peer (Lord Home) after his defeat by Labour’s Harold Wilson in 1964 and served as Ted Heath’s foreign secretary from 1970-74. Having been Neville Chamberlain’s bagman at Munich, he was tough on the Russians to make up for early errors of appeasement.
The ousted Chamberlain died in Cabinet Office six months after being replaced by Winston Churchill, who made sure he took the leadership of the Tory party after the funeral – to avoid David Lloyd George’s fate, the Tory coup of 1922. Lloyd George hung on as an MP: brilliant, mischievous, proto-Keynesian and creative until almost the end. In 1940 he half-expected to do as Pétain had done in defeated France: negotiate what terms he could with Hitler. The ousted Chamberlain died in cabinet office six months after being replaced by Winston Churchill, who made sure he took the leadership of the Tory party after the funeral – to avoid David Lloyd George’s fate, the Tory coup of 1922. Lloyd George hung on as an MP: brilliant, mischievous, proto-Keynesian and creative until almost the end. In 1940 he half-expected to do as Marshal Pétain had done in defeated France: negotiate what terms he could with Hitler.
Instead he lost to Clement Attlee in 1945. Attlee only quit as Labour leader and MP in 1955 – a “temp” who lasted 20 years – and took the usual peerage in the same year Churchill was finally eased out of No 10 – at 80. He stayed an MP, rarely speaking, until 1964 and was grand enough – shrewd too – to reject the proffered dukedom. He knew that game was over. So was his own. He died within six months.Instead he lost to Clement Attlee in 1945. Attlee only quit as Labour leader and MP in 1955 – a “temp” who lasted 20 years – and took the usual peerage in the same year Churchill was finally eased out of No 10 – at 80. He stayed an MP, rarely speaking, until 1964 and was grand enough – shrewd too – to reject the proffered dukedom. He knew that game was over. So was his own. He died within six months.
Each case is different. After his prostate scare Harold Macmillan – the last former prime minister I never met – quit as PM and MP in 1964, declined the earldom and lived until 1986, occasionally mocking Margaret Thatcher for “selling the family silver” but being otherwise statesmanlike and supportive. For reasons never fully explained (for his son, Maurice, who then predeceased him?), he belatedly took the peerage in 1984 when he was 90 and not saying much. Each case is different. After his prostate scare Harold Macmillan – the last former prime minister I never met – quit as PM and MP in 1964, declined the earldom and lived until 1986, occasionally mocking Thatcher for “selling the family silver”, but being otherwise statesmanlike and supportive. For reasons never fully explained (for his son, Maurice, who then predeceased him?), he belatedly took the peerage in 1984, when he was 90 and not saying much.
The Great SulkThe Great Sulk
It was Edward Heath the moderniser who broke that habit by continuing Labour’s policy of not awarding hereditary peerages. As every Guardian reader knows, he was overthrown by Margaret Thatcher in 1975 but stayed as an MP until 2001 – engaging in the Great Sulk at the expense of Thatcher and her policies. It was Edward Heath the moderniser who broke that habit by continuing Labour’s policy of not awarding hereditary peerages. As every Guardian reader knows, he was overthrown by Thatcher in 1975 but stayed as an MP until 2001 – engaging in the Great Sulk at the expense of Thatcher and her policies.
This was politically understandable – Heath believed he was right about most things – but deplorably bad personal behaviour, so Thatcher did the same to John Major when her turn came after leaving the Commons for the Lords in 1992. She died only last year, a guest of the Barclay brothers in the Ritz hotel, a sad end. In fact Major is the only recent former prime minister whose behaviour has largely been impeccable.This was politically understandable – Heath believed he was right about most things – but deplorably bad personal behaviour, so Thatcher did the same to John Major when her turn came after leaving the Commons for the Lords in 1992. She died only last year, a guest of the Barclay brothers in the Ritz hotel, a sad end. In fact Major is the only recent former prime minister whose behaviour has largely been impeccable.
Defeated by Blair in 1997, he remained an MP until 2001 and did not take a peerage – like Heath but unlike Jim Callaghan (1976-79) and Wilson (1964-70 and 1974-76). I can remember both speaking from the backbenches as ex-PMs, not often but usually wisely, likewise as peers. I last saw the frail Wilson being shepherded through the Lords by Callaghan, older but tougher.Defeated by Blair in 1997, he remained an MP until 2001 and did not take a peerage – like Heath but unlike Jim Callaghan (1976-79) and Wilson (1964-70 and 1974-76). I can remember both speaking from the backbenches as ex-PMs, not often but usually wisely, likewise as peers. I last saw the frail Wilson being shepherded through the Lords by Callaghan, older but tougher.
Callaghan had stayed on as leader until 1980 in an attempt to deliver the job to Denis Healey. When Michael Foot won and led Labour to a notorious defeat in 1983 – unilateralist and in favour of leaving the European Union – Callaghan made an unhelpful election contribution on defence. But mostly he was supportive. I used to ring him up occasionally to sound him out. Blair puzzled him. He was always worth listening to, he’d done all the big jobs.Callaghan had stayed on as leader until 1980 in an attempt to deliver the job to Denis Healey. When Michael Foot won and led Labour to a notorious defeat in 1983 – unilateralist and in favour of leaving the European Union – Callaghan made an unhelpful election contribution on defence. But mostly he was supportive. I used to ring him up occasionally to sound him out. Blair puzzled him. He was always worth listening to, he’d done all the big jobs.
The conclusion we should draw – says me – is that no two cases are similar. Gordon Brown has been barely seen or heard in the 2010 parliament, speaking mostly on local constituency issues. I regret that, he has much to tell us all and much of it is wise. Who kept us out of the euro, for example? Gordon Brown. Who rescued the wicked bankers he had rashly trusted ? Same again. Who belatedly spoke out with such effect to help ensure a No vote in Scotland’s referendum? Well yes, Gordon again, though he had sulked through most of the campaign. It’s in his nature. The conclusion we should draw – says me – is that no two cases are similar. Gordon Brown has been barely seen or heard in the 2010 parliament, speaking mostly on local constituency issues. I regret that, he has much to tell us all and much of it is wise. Who kept us out of the euro, for example? Gordon Brown. Who rescued the wicked bankers he had rashly trusted? Same again. Who belatedly spoke out with such effect to help ensure a No vote in Scotland’s referendum? Well yes, Gordon again, though he had sulked through most of the campaign. It’s in his nature.
But too many politicians today get top jobs too soon and quit politics too soon too, just when they are getting the hang of it in some cases. The example I admire is that old throwback, Ken Clarke. When I interviewed him on stage at Guardian HQ only last week I asked if he plans to step down in May. After all he’ll be almost 75. Not a bit of it – he plans to go on speaking his backbench mind and making trouble. But too many politicians today get top jobs too soon and quit politics too soon, too, just when they are getting the hang of it in some cases. The example I admire is that old throwback, Ken Clarke. When I interviewed him on stage at Guardian HQ only last week I asked if he plans to step down in May. After all he’ll be almost 75. Not a bit of it – he plans to go on speaking his backbench mind and making trouble.