11. Gordon Brown

After ten years as chancellor, Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair to become Prime Minister and Labour Party leader - from 2007 to 2010.

He led the country through the 2008 global financial crisis, but his tenure ended in defeat, and Labour lost power until 2024.

This episode explores Brown's leadership with amazing guests: Alan Johnson, Jacqui Smith, Neil Kinnock, Guy Lodge, Andrew Grice, Tim Bale and Nick Pearce.

Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:

LinkedIn: Izzy Conn

X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_

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Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.

LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor

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Artwork by Chloe Watts, artist based in Manchester.

Music by Rykard From.

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Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.

LINKS

Alan Johnson, former Home Secretary, Labour MP 1997 - 2017, and author of The Long and Winding Road (2016).

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-long-and-winding-road/alan-johnson/9780552172158https://swiftpress.com/book/harold-wilson/

Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills (since 2024), and former Home Secretary.

Nick Pearce, head of Brown's No.10 Policy Unit, and Director of the Institute for Policy Research (IPR).

Guy Lodge, founder of Kivu International, and co-author of Brown at 10 (2010).

https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/brown-at-10

Andrew Grice, former Independent Political Editor.

Tim Bale, political scientist, and author of The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron (2016).

Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.