Brown's Britain: This Is the Biggest Story in British Politics Today and Here it is from the Inside . . .

by Robert Peston

In Brown’s Britain , award-winning journalist Robert Peston explains for the first time the REAL nature of the relationship between Blair and Brown. With the ease of a born storyteller, he gives the first truly authoritative account of the extraordinary deal they did back in 1994, the subsequent collapse of trust between them, and the growing crisis as they almost came to blows in the run-up to the 2005 election. This book, for which Peston was granted unprecedented access to the Chancellor and his friends and colleagues, draws back the veil on the brooding man who has been Britain’s longest serving and arguably most powerful Chancellor in more than 100 years. Filled with telling quotes and unexpected insights, it takes you right to the heart of the secret power games that go on behind the gates of Downing Street, and looks ahead at what Brown would do if he were to become Prime Minister in name as well as deed. Fully updated with a new final chapter, this paperback edition contains further spectacular revelations about the last showdown between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair for control of the Labour Party.

Genres: Politics

388 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Rob Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘There’s nothing you could ever say to me now that I could ever believe.’ (Brown to Blair)

One of my goals for 2025 was to get back into reading non-fiction, particularly political history. I found this in a book shop in Notting Hill last December and didn’t pick it up until last week.

I’ve never read Peston, but this was great. I wouldn’t say it’s an autobiography as such - Andrew Neil is certainly misleading with his quote on the cover. It’s more an insight into the political mind of arguably Britain’s most powerful chancellor.

There were a lot of aspects that surprised me. First, and most interestingly, I was completely unaware of the role of Ed Balls. I hadn’t realised Balls was the primary driving force behind Brown & New Labour’s economic policy - a devout Brownite and lowkey a genius.

Brown and Balls’ ambition to make the Bank of England independent and transfer the control of setting interest rates from the Treasury to the Bank of England is, to this day, one of the best economic moves a Labour government has ever done. It gave Labour, for the first time in its history, fiscal credibility.

Also the 5 tests that had to be met in order to join the Euro, and leaving this decision to civil servants (much to the annoyance of Blair) was also fantastic. In my opinion, it was also the right move not to join the Euro.

Balls features throughout this book consistently. Now, I don’t want to presume any favouritism on Peston’s side, but I’m aware he does play in a band with Balls (Centrists Dad’s). I doubt they had this close a relationship at the time of publication and I have enough respect for Peston as a journalist to assume there is no favouritism. However, one could argue that a better name for the book would’ve been Balls’ Britain.

Anyway, my admiration for Brown in this book stems from his ability, pre-97, to turn the Labour Party into a fiscally responsible and economically trusted party. This has always been Labour’s problem. If we look at the 2019 election, never-ending, fiscally irresponsible, populist policies do not get us elected. Brown’s commitment as shadow chancellor to not commit to anything unless funded was key to Labour’s electoral success.

It is a shame his and Blair’s relationship after the Granita Deal was broken. The personal, narcissistic ambitions of men are always their downfalls. Throughout the book I failed to understand his unwavering and uncompromising desire to be PM.

[Monie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book such a high rating cause of the author not Brown