Editing Gordon Brown (section)

==Prime Minister (2007–2010)==
{{main|Premiership of Gordon Brown}}
[[File:Gordon Brown's first Cabinet Meeting.jpg|thumb|Brown chairing his first cabinet meeting]]
After Blair tendered his resignation to [[Queen Elizabeth II]], Brown was invited by the queen to form a government and become Prime Minister on 27 June 2007. In his first speech as prime minister, Brown said "This will be a new government with new priorities and I have been privileged to have been granted the great opportunity to serve my country. And at all times I will be strong in purpose, steadfast in will, resolute in action, in the service of what matters to the British people, meeting the concerns and aspirations of our whole country."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gordon Brown's first speech as Prime Minister |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555770/Gordon-Browns-first-speech-as-Prime-Minister.html |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk |date=27 June 2007 |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001214849/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555770/Gordon-Browns-first-speech-as-Prime-Minister.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=27 June 2007 |title=Brown is UK's new prime minister |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6245682.stm |url-status=live |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309001812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6245682.stm |archive-date=9 March 2008}}</ref>

Brown rescinded some of the policies which had been introduced or were planned by Blair's administration. He remained committed to [[Special Relationship|close ties with the United States]] and to the war in Iraq, although he established [[Iraq Inquiry|an inquiry into the reasons for Britain's participation in the conflict]]. He proposed a "government of all the talents" which would involve co-opting leading personalities from industry and professional occupations into government positions. Brown also appointed [[Jacqui Smith]] as the UK's first female [[Home Secretary]], while Brown's [[Chancellorship of Gordon Brown|former position]] as [[chancellor of the exchequer]] was taken over by [[Alistair Darling]]. He proposed moving some traditional [[Powers of the prime minister of the United Kingdom|prime ministerial powers]] conferred by [[royal prerogative]] to the realm of Parliament, such as the power to declare war and approve appointments to senior positions. Brown wanted Parliament to gain the right to ratify treaties and have more oversight of the intelligence services. He also proposed moving some powers from Parliament to citizens, including the right to form "citizens' juries", easily petition Parliament for new laws, and rally outside Westminster. He asserted that the attorney general should not have the right to decide whether to prosecute in individual cases, such as in the [[Cash-for-Honours scandal|loans for peerages]] scandal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 July 2007 |title=Gordon Brown's big idea |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441642 |url-status=live |access-date=15 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022105918/http://www.economist.com/node/9441642?story_id=9441642 |archive-date=22 October 2012}}</ref>[[File:George W. and Laura Bush + Gordon and Sarah Brown 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Brown and [[George W. Bush]], President of the United States, meet at Downing Street, June 2008]]There was speculation during September and early October 2007 about whether Brown would call a [[snap general election]]. Indeed, the party launched the [[Not flash, just Gordon]] advertising campaign, which was seen largely as pre-election promotion of Brown as Prime Minister; however, Brown announced on 6 October that there would be no election any time soon – despite opinion polls showing that he was capable of winning an election should he call one.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McBride |first=Damian |date=5 October 2012 |title=Gordon Brown and the 2007 election: why it never happened |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown/9589561/Gordon-Brown-and-the-2007-election-why-it-never-happened.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006021824/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown/9589561/Gordon-Brown-and-the-2007-election-why-it-never-happened.html |archive-date=6 October 2012}}</ref> This proved to be a costly mistake, as during 2008 his party slid behind the Conservatives (led by [[David Cameron]]) in the polls. Disputes over political donations, a string of losses in local elections, and by-election losses in [[Crewe]] and [[Glasgow]] did himself and the government no favours either.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landale |first=James |author-link=James Landale |date=11 May 2010 |title=Gordon Brown's political career |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8673608.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513074445/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8673608.stm |archive-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> Brown has since claimed that Labour would have won the 2007 election but he did not believe an early election was in the national interest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hennessy |first1=Patrick |last2=Kite |first2=Melissa |date=7 October 2007 |title=Gordon Brown: Why I put off an early election |language=en-GB |website=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/1565348/Gordon-Brown-Why-I-put-off-an-early-election.html |access-date=20 January 2021 |archive-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522153824/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/1565348/Gordon-Brown-Why-I-put-off-an-early-election.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sylvester |first=Rachel |date=22 April 2015 |title=What if... Gordon Brown had called an election in 2007? |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/what-if-gordon-brown-had-called-an-election-in-2007 |access-date=20 January 2021 |website=Prospect Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=6 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306120629/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/what-if-gordon-brown-had-called-an-election-in-2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

His political opponents accused him of being indecisive, which Brown denied.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 October 2007 |title=Brown rules out autumn election |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7031749.stm |url-status=live |access-date=6 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011005712/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7031749.stm |archive-date=11 October 2007}}</ref> In July 2008, he supported a [[Counter-Terrorism Act 2008|new bill extending the pre-charge detention period to 42 days]]. The bill was met with opposition on both sides of the House and backbench rebellion. In the end, the bill passed by just nine votes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Philip |date=2 July 2008 |title=Labour denies Keith Vaz offered 'reward' for backing government |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/labour-denies-keith-vaz-offered-reward-for-backing-government-8jc3wxzl7rx |url-access=registration |access-date=2 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=12 June 2008 |title=There were no deals over 42-day vote, insists Brown |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/jun/12/terrorism.labour |url-status=live |access-date=12 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612233226/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/12/terrorism.labour |archive-date=12 June 2008}}</ref> The House of Lords defeated the bill, with Lords characterising it as "fatally flawed, ill thought through and unnecessary", stating that "it seeks to further erode fundamental legal and civil rights".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prince |first=Rosa |date=14 October 2008 |title=Jacqui Smith creates 'emergency bill' after 42-day detention defeat |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/3192152/Jacqui-Smith-creates-emergency-bill-after-42-day-detention-defeat.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017043119/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/3192152/Jacqui-Smith-creates-emergency-bill-after-42-day-detention-defeat.html |archive-date=17 October 2008}}</ref>

Brown was mentioned by the press in the expenses crisis for claiming for the payment of his cleaner; however, no wrongdoing was found and the Commons Authority did not pursue Brown over the claim. Meanwhile, the Commons Fees Office stated that a double payment for a £153 plumbing repair bill was a mistake on their part and that Brown had repaid it in full.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2009 |title=MPs' expenses: the true story of Gordon Brown, the cleaner and my husband |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/may/10/gordon-brown-cleaner-mps-expenses |url-status=live |access-date=13 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513102624/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/10/gordon-brown-cleaner-mps-expenses |archive-date=13 May 2009}}</ref><ref name="bbckeydetails">{{Cite news |date=19 June 2009 |title=MPs' expenses claims&nbsp;– key details |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm |url-status=live |access-date=13 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511161834/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm |archive-date=11 May 2009}}</ref>

===Domestic policy===
[[File:Gordon Brown Davos 2008 crop (1).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Brown at the [[World Economic Forum]] meeting in Davos in 2008]]
During his Labour leadership campaign Brown proposed some policy initiatives, which he called the ''manifesto for change''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hipwell |first=Deirdre |date=13 May 2007 |title=Gordon's manifesto for change |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/gordons-manifesto-for-change-rqswxtdd0db |access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Watt |first=Nicholas |date=13 May 2007 |title=Poll surge as Brown unveils policy blitz |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/13/uk.labourleadership |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203150026/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/may/13/uk.labourleadership |archive-date=3 February 2009}}</ref>

The manifesto included a clampdown on corruption and a new [[Ministerial Code]], which set out clear standards of behaviour for ministers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 July 2007 |title=Brown sets out reform proposals |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6258794.stm |url-status=live |access-date=3 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726222650/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6258794.stm |archive-date=26 July 2008}}</ref> He also stated in a speech when announcing his bid that he wanted a "better constitution" that is "clear about the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in Britain today". He planned to set up an all-party convention to look at new powers for Parliament and to look at rebalancing powers between [[Whitehall]] and local government. Brown said he would give Parliament the final say on whether British troops were sent into action in future.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-16050574|title=Parliament 'war powers' must be law by 2015, say MPs|date=6 December 2011|publisher=BBC|accessdate=4 June 2024}}</ref>

He said he wanted to release more land and ease access to ownership with shared equity schemes. He backed a proposal to build new [[eco-towns]], each housing between 10,000 and 20,000 homeowners – up to 100,000 new homes in total.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/13/property.communities|title=New eco-towns to ease house crisis|first1=Nicholas |last1=Watt|first2= Jo |last2=Revill|work=The Guardian|date=13 May 2007|accessdate=3 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607083136/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/13/property.communities|archive-date=7 June 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
Brown also said he wanted to have doctors' surgeries open at the weekends, and GPs on call in the evenings. Doctors were given the right of opting out of out-of-hours care in 2007, under a controversial pay deal, signed by then-Health Secretary [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]], which awarded them a 22 per cent pay rise in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/brown-to-tackle-ps100-000-a-year-gps-over-pay-and-hours-6582209.html|title=Brown to tackle £100,000 a year GPs over pay and hours|work=[[The Evening Standard]]|date=12 April 2012|accessdate=4 June 2024}}</ref>

On 5 June 2007, just three weeks before he was due to take the post of Prime Minister, Brown made a speech promising "British Jobs for British workers".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones, Toby Helm and Graeme Wilson |first=George |date=6 June 2007 |title=British workers for British jobs says Brown |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1553710/British-workers-for-British-jobs-says-Brown.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202121416/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1553710/British-workers-for-British-jobs-says-Brown.html |archive-date=2 February 2009}}</ref> Brown reiterated that promise at the Labour Party's annual conference in September, which caused controversy as he coupled this with a commitment to crack down on migrant workers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=Ben |date=10 September 2007 |title='Jobs for every Briton,' says Brown in crackdown on migrant workers |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jobs-for-every-briton-says-brown-in-crackdown-on-migrant-workers-401873.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416222420/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jobs-for-every-briton-says-brown-in-crackdown-on-migrant-workers-401873.html |archive-date=16 April 2009}}</ref><ref name="BBCJobs">{{Cite news |last=Parkinson |first=Justin |date=16 November 2007 |title=What does 'British jobs' pledge mean? |work=BBC News |location=London |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7097837.stm |url-status=live |access-date=25 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002023829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7097837.stm |archive-date=2 October 2013}}</ref> The Conservative Party, led by [[David Cameron]], promptly pointed out that such a commitment was illegal under EU law.<ref name=BBCJobs/> Other controversial statements made by Brown about migration included him stating that English lessons and taking mandatory community service should be prerequisites for being granted UK citizenship.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2007 |title=Migrants should volunteer – Brown |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6399457.stm |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=1 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001184722/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6399457.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the Queen's Speech to Parliament on 3 December 2008, the Brown government unveiled plans to introduce lie detector tests, based on voice recognition technology, in order to determine whether to accept benefit claims.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2008 |title=Lie detector tests to catch benefit cheats |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/dec/03/queeens-speech-benefit-cheats-fraud |access-date=1 October 2022 |first=Patrick |last=Wintour| authorlink=Patrick Wintour|website=The Guardian |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005201448/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/dec/03/queeens-speech-benefit-cheats-fraud |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite having spent £2.4 million on these tests, trials performed by the [[Department for Work and Pensions]] showed that they were inaccurate approximately four of every seven times they were used.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2009 |title=Government data shows £2.4m 'lie detection' didn't work in 4 of 7 trials |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2009/mar/19/dwp-voice-risk-analysis-statistics |access-date=1 October 2022 |first=Charles|last=Arthur|website=The Guardian |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004152736/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2009/mar/19/dwp-voice-risk-analysis-statistics |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
[[File:Gordon Brown troop visit.jpg|thumb|right|Brown meets British troops during a visit to Basra, 2007]]
[[File:Obama, Prince Charles, Brown, Harper & Sarkozy at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial 2009-06-06.JPG|thumb|US President [[Barack Obama]], [[Prince Charles]], Brown, Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] and French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] arrive at the Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery to attend a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the [[D-Day landings]] in Normandy, 6 June 2009.]]
Brown had been committed to the [[Iraq War]], but said in a speech in June 2007 that he would "learn the lessons" from the mistakes made in Iraq.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=George |date=12 June 2007 |title=The subtle shift in British foreign policy |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554223/Brown-in-Baghdad-with-%27lessons-to-learn%27.html |url-status=dead |access-date=23 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206123045/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554223/Brown-in-Baghdad-with-%27lessons-to-learn%27.html |archive-date=6 December 2008}}</ref> Brown said in a letter published on 17 March 2008 that the United Kingdom would hold [[Iraq Inquiry|an inquiry into the war]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Grice |first1=Andrew |last2=Morris |first2=Nigel |date=17 March 2008 |title=There will be a public inquiry into Iraq, says Brown |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/there-will-be-a-public-inquiry-into-iraq-says-brown-796851.html |access-date=19 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418111920/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/there-will-be-a-public-inquiry-into-iraq-says-brown-796851.html |archive-date=18 April 2010}}</ref>

Brown went to great lengths to empathise with those who lost family members in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. He has often said "War is tragic", echoing Blair's quote, "War is horrible".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dougary, Ginny |author-link=Ginny Dougary |date=10 April 2010 |title=What Gordon Brown is really thinking |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/gordon-brown-interview-the-election-blair-and-family-life-wng67z7zg83 |access-date=27 April 2010 }}</ref> Nonetheless, in November 2007 Brown was accused by some senior military figures of not adhering to the [[Military Covenant]], a convention within British politics ensuring adequate safeguards, rewards and compensation for military personnel who risk their lives in obedience to orders derived from the policy of the elected government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 November 2007 |title=Renew the Military Covenant |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-renew-the-military-covenant--in-full-399856.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206110745/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-renew-the-military-covenant--in-full-399856.html |archive-date=6 December 2008}}</ref>

Brown did not attend the opening ceremony of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] on 8 August 2008 in [[Beijing]]; instead, he attended the closing ceremony on 24 August 2008. Brown had been under intense pressure from human rights campaigners to send a message to [[China]], concerning the [[2008 Tibetan unrest]]. His decision not to attend the opening ceremony was not an act of protest, but rather was made several weeks in advance and not intended as a stand on principle.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 April 2008 |title=PM not attending Olympics opening |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7339580.stm |url-status=live |access-date=19 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417112037/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7339580.stm |archive-date=17 April 2008}}</ref>

In a speech in July 2007, Brown clarified his position regarding Britain's relationship with the [[United States]]:<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2007 |title=Speech not critical of US&nbsp;– Brown |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6896797.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819034852/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6896797.stm |archive-date=19 August 2007}}</ref> "We will not allow people to separate us from the United States of America in dealing with the common challenges that we face around the world. I think people have got to remember that the special relationship between a British prime minister and an American president is built on the things that we share, the same enduring values about the importance of liberty, opportunity, the dignity of the individual. I will continue to work, as [[Tony Blair]] did, very closely with the American administration."

Brown and the Labour party had pledged to allow a referendum on the [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe|Constitutional Treaty]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Labour Party manifesto 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_04_05_labour_manifesto.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307110101/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_04_05_labour_manifesto.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2008 |page=82}}</ref> On 13 December 2007, [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]] [[David Miliband]] attended for the Prime Minister at the official signing ceremony for the [[Treaty of Lisbon]]. Brown's opponents on both sides of the House, and in the press, suggested that ratification by Parliament was not enough and that a referendum should also be held. Labour's 2005 manifesto had pledged to give the British public a referendum on the original [[EU Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elliott |first=Francis |date=23 October 2007 |title=Gordon Brown attacked on all sides for 'running away' from referendum |work=[[The Times]] |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2718086.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=23 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007162634/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2718086.ece |archive-date=7 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 October 2007 |title=Cameron attacks Brown on EU vote |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7023458.stm |url-status=live |access-date=15 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021083951/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7023458.stm |archive-date=21 October 2007}}</ref> Brown argued that the Treaty significantly differed from the Constitution, and as such did not require a referendum. Most notably the Supremacy Clause<ref>{{Cite web |title=EUR-Lex - 12004V006 - EN - EUR-Lex |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tcons_2004/art_6/oj/eng |access-date=27 April 2025 |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> was removed and replaced with a substantially weaker declaration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EUR-Lex - 12008E/AFI/DCL/17 - EN - EUR-Lex |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/lis_2008/fna_1/dcl_17/oj/eng |access-date=27 April 2025 |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> He also responded with plans for a lengthy debate on the topic, and stated that he believed the document to be too complex to be decided by referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Elliott |first1=Francis |last2=Charter |first2=David |date=19 October 2007 |title=Battle of the EU treaty to last for months |work=[[The Times]] |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2687253.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=19 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012185235/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2687253.ece |archive-date=12 October 2008}}</ref>

===Drug policy===
During Brown's premiership, in October 2008, the [[Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs]] (ACMD) recommended to the then [[Home Secretary]] [[Jacqui Smith]] that [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] remain classified as a [[Class C drug]].<ref name="BBC News cannabis">{{Cite news |date=31 October 2009 |title=Debate over cannabis classification |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7845023.stm |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019033134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8334774.stm |archive-date=19 October 2010}}</ref> Acting against the advice of the council, she chose to reclassify it as [[Drugs controlled by the UK Misuse of Drugs Act#Class B drugs|Class B]].<ref name="BBC News cannabis" /> After Professor [[David Nutt]], the chair of the ACMD, criticised this move in a lecture in 2009, he was asked to step down by then Home Secretary [[Alan Johnson]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 October 2009 |title=Cannabis row drugs adviser sacked |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8334774.stm |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019033134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8334774.stm |archive-date=19 October 2010}}</ref> Following his resignation, Professor Nutt said Brown had "made up his mind" to reclassify cannabis despite evidence to the contrary.<ref name="Batty20091031">{{Cite news |last=Batty |first=David |date=31 October 2009 |title=Professor David Nutt warns resignations may result from prime minister's 'absurd' stance on reclassification |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/31/david-nutt-drugs-adviser-sacked |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102065008/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/31/david-nutt-drugs-adviser-sacked |archive-date=2 November 2009}}</ref> Brown had argued, "I don't think that the previous studies took into account that so much of the cannabis on the streets is now of a lethal quality and we really have got to send out a message to young people—this is not acceptable".<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 April 2008 |title=Brown says message must be sent on cannabis |work=[[Reuters]] |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2973937220080430 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620023313/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2973937220080430 |archive-date=20 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Oates |first=John |date=29 April 2008 |title=Brown opts for morality over science on 'lethal skunk' |work=[[The Register]] |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/29/brown_cannabis_science |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430220351/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/29/brown_cannabis_science |archive-date=30 April 2008}}</ref> Professor Nutt's predecessor at the ACMD, [[Sir Michael Rawlins]], later said, "Governments may well have good reasons for taking an alternative view&nbsp;... When that happens, then the government should explain why it's ignoring the particular advice".<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 October 2009 |title=Sacked adviser criticises Brown |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8335189.stm |url-status=live |access-date=31 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031100740/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8335189.stm |archive-date=31 October 2009}}</ref>

===Global recession===
Brown's premiership coincided with the [[Great Recession|global recession]], during which Brown called for fiscal action in an attempt to stimulate aggregate demand. Domestically, Brown's administration introduced measures including a [[2008 United Kingdom bank rescue package|bank rescue package]] worth around £500&nbsp;billion (approximately $850&nbsp;billion), a temporary 2.5 percentage point cut in [[value-added tax]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 December 2008 |title=Lower VAT rate comes into force |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7757854.stm |url-status=live |access-date=12 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419185951/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7757854.stm |archive-date=19 April 2012}}</ref> and a "car scrappage" scheme.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 September 2009 |title=Scrappage scheme to be extended |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8278679.stm |url-status=live |access-date=12 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116001953/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8278679.stm |archive-date=16 November 2012}}</ref>

===Challenges to leadership===
In mid-2008, Brown's leadership was presented with a challenge as some MPs openly called for him to resign.  This event was dubbed the 'Lancashire Plot', as two backbenchers from [[Local Government Act 1972|(pre-1974) Lancashire]] urged him to step down and a third questioned his chances of holding on to the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leadership.  Several MPs argued that if Brown did not recover in the polls by early 2009, he should call for a leadership contest; however, certain prominent MPs, such as [[Jacqui Smith]] and [[Bill Rammell]], suggested that Brown was the right person to lead Britain through its economic crisis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Nigel |date=29 July 2008 |title=Cabinet backs Brown but 'Lancashire plot' sparks open warfare |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cabinet-backs-brown-but-lancashire-plot-sparks-open-warfare-879414.html |url-status=live |access-date=29 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206111340/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cabinet-backs-brown-but-lancashire-plot-sparks-open-warfare-879414.html |archive-date=6 December 2008}}</ref>  In the autumn, [[Siobhain McDonagh]], an MP and junior government whip, who during her time in office had never voted against the government,<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 September 2008 |title=Profile: Siobhain McDonagh |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7613296.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915050755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7613296.stm |archive-date=15 September 2008}}</ref> spoke of the need for discussion over Brown's position.  While she did not state that she wanted Brown deposed, she implored the Labour Party to hold a leadership election. McDonagh was sacked from her role shortly afterward, on 12 September.<ref name="Whipsacked">{{Cite news |date=12 September 2008 |title=Whip sacked over leader bid call |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7613086.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915005608/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7613086.stm |archive-date=15 September 2008}}</ref> She was supported in making clear her desire for a contest by [[Joan Ryan (politician)|Joan Ryan]] (who applied, as McDonagh had, for leadership nomination papers, and became the second rebel to be fired from her job), [[Jim Dowd (politician)|Jim Dowd]], [[Greg Pope]], and a string of others who had previously held positions in government.<ref name="Exministers">{{Cite news |last=Jonathan Oliver, Marie Woolf |date=14 September 2008 |title=Ex-ministers join Gordon Brown rebellion |work=[[The Times]] |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4749182.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=14 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716135448/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4749182.ece |archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref>

In the face of this speculation over Brown's future, his ministers backed him to lead the party, and [[Harriet Harman]] and [[David Miliband]] denied that they were preparing leadership bids. After Labour lost the [[Glasgow East by-election]] in July, Harman, the deputy leader of the party, said that Brown was the "solution", not the "problem"; Home Secretary Smith, Justice Secretary [[Jack Straw]], Schools Secretary [[Ed Balls]] and Cabinet Office Minister [[Ed Miliband]] all re-affirmed their support for Brown.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 July 2008 |title=Harman denies planning leader bid |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7531576.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201060449/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7531576.stm |archive-date=1 December 2008}}</ref> The [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]] under Blair, [[John Prescott]], also pledged his support.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 July 2008 |title=Prescott warns over PM challenge |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7527725.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201060441/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7527725.stm |archive-date=1 December 2008}}</ref> Foreign Secretary David Miliband then denied that he was plotting a leadership bid, when on 30 July, an article written by him in ''[[The Guardian]]'' was interpreted by a large number in the media as an attempt to undermine Brown. In the article, Miliband outlined the party's future, but neglected to mention the Prime Minister. Miliband, responded to this by saying that he was confident Brown could lead Labour to victory in the next general election, and that his article was an attack against the [[fatalism]] in the party since the loss of [[Glasgow East]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 2008 |title=Miliband denies 'leadership' bid |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7532691.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914082938/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7532691.stm |archive-date=14 September 2008}}</ref> Miliband continued to show his support for Brown in the face of the challenge that emerged in September, as did [[Business Secretary]] [[John Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness|John Hutton]], [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|Environment Secretary]] [[Hilary Benn]], and [[Chief Whip of the Labour Party|Chief Whip]] [[Geoff Hoon]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 2008 |title=Miliband throws support behind PM |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7615274.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915090720/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7615274.stm |archive-date=15 September 2008}}</ref>

On 4 June 2009 [[James Purnell]] resigned from the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]], and called for Brown's resignation as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/04/james-purnell-resigns-gordon-brown-cabinet|title=James Purnell quits cabinet and calls on Gordon Brown to stand aside now|first1=Allegra |last1=Stratton|authorlink1=Allegra Stratton|first2=Patrick|last2=Wintour|authorlink2=Patrick Wintour|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 June 2009|accessdate=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503161943/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/04/james-purnell-resigns-gordon-brown-cabinet|archive-date=3 May 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 6 January 2010, [[Patricia Hewitt]] and [[Geoff Hoon]] jointly called for a secret ballot on the future of Brown's leadership.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kettle |first=Martin |date=6 January 2010 |title=Hewitt and Hoon's great gamble |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/jan/06/hoon-hewitt-gordon-brown-labour |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108090357/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/06/hoon-hewitt-gordon-brown-labour |archive-date=8 January 2010}}</ref>  The call received little support, and the following day Hoon said that it appeared to have failed and was "over".  Brown later referred to the call for a secret ballot as a "form of silliness".<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 January 2010 |title=Gordon Brown says leadership challenge was 'silliness' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8450375.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110052201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8450375.stm |archive-date=10 January 2010}}</ref>

===By-elections and 2009 local and EU elections===
[[File:Biden Brown, Policy Network, April 6 2009.jpg|thumb|250px|Brown greeting then-U.S. vice president [[Joe Biden]] in [[Chile]], April 2009]]
In the local elections on 1 May 2008, Labour suffered its worst results in 40 years, finishing in third place with a projected 24% share of the national vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 May 2008 |title=Labour suffers big council losses |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7372860.stm |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921211337/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7372860.stm |archive-date=21 September 2011}}</ref> Subsequently, the party saw the loss of by-elections in [[2008 Crewe and Nantwich by-election|Crewe and Nantwich]] and [[2008 Henley by-election|Henley]] as well as slumps in the polls. A [[2008 Glasgow East by-election|by-election in Glasgow East]] triggered by the resignation of [[David Marshall (British politician)|David Marshall]] saw Labour struggle to appoint a candidate, eventually settling for [[Margaret Curran]], a sitting MSP in the [[Scottish Parliament]]. The SNP, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats all derided Labour for their disorganised nature, with [[Alex Salmond]] commenting "This is their 'lost weekend'—they don't have a leader in Scotland, they don't have a candidate in Glasgow East, and they have a prime minister who refuses to come to the constituency".<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 July 2008 |title=Labour MSP joins by-election race |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7491574.stm |url-status=live |access-date=3 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122113838/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7491574.stm |archive-date=22 November 2008}}</ref> Labour lost the constituency to the [[Scottish National Party]]'s [[John Mason (Scottish politician)|John Mason]] who took 11,277 votes, with Labour just 365 behind. The seat experienced a swing of 22.54%.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 July 2008 |title=SNP stuns Labour in Glasgow East |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7522153.stm |url-status=live |access-date=19 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921055948/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7522153.stm |archive-date=21 September 2008}}</ref>

In the [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|European elections]], Labour polled 16% of the vote, finishing in third place behind the Conservatives and [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP).<ref name=labour/> Voter apathy was reflected in the historically low turnout of around thirty-three per cent. In Scotland, voter turnout was only twenty-eight per cent. In the [[2009 United Kingdom local elections|local elections]], Labour polled 23% of the vote, finishing in third place behind [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] and [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], with Labour losing control of the four councils it had held prior to the election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 June 2009 |title=Election 2009 &#124; Councils A-Z |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/09/html/region_999999.stm |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609072137/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/09/html/region_999999.stm |archive-date=9 June 2009}}</ref> In a vote widely considered to be a reaction to the expenses scandal, the share of the votes was down for all the major parties; Labour was down one per cent, the Conservative share was down five per cent. The beneficiary of the public backlash was generally seen to be the minor parties, including the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] and UKIP. These results were Labour's worst since World War II. Brown was quoted in the press as having said that the results were "a painful defeat for Labour", and that "too many good people doing so much good for their communities and their constituencies have lost through no fault of their own."<ref name=timesonline1/><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 June 2009 |title=Salmond hails historic Euro win |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8088358.stm |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608013122/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8088358.stm |archive-date=8 June 2009}}</ref>

===2010 general election===
{{main|2010 United Kingdom general election}}
In April 2010, Brown asked the Queen to dissolve Parliament. The general election campaign included the first televised leadership debates in Britain. The result of the election on 6 May was a [[hung parliament]].<ref name="BBC 07-05-2010">{{Cite news |date=7 May 2010 |title=Election 2010: First hung parliament in UK for decades |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8667071.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511135305/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8667071.stm |archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> Brown was re-elected as MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath with 29,559 votes.<ref name="BBC 07-05-2010"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 2010 |title=General Election 2010&nbsp;– Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/840.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031202628/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/840.stm |archive-date=31 October 2012}}</ref>

===2010 government formation and resignation===
{{main|2010 United Kingdom government formation}}
{{further|2010 Labour Party leadership election (UK)}}
[[File:The Queen and Gordon Brown 11 May 2010 (7141493275).jpg|thumb|Brown tendering his resignation to [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] at Buckingham Palace]]
Brown announced on 10 May 2010 that he would stand down as Labour Leader, with a view to a successor being chosen before the next [[Labour Party Conference]] in September 2010.<ref name="resignation">{{Cite news |date=10 May 2010 |title=Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8672859.stm |url-status=live |access-date=10 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513013555/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8672859.stm |archive-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> The following day, negotiations between the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition government failed, and a [[Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement]] was reached. During the evening, Brown visited [[Buckingham Palace]] to tender his resignation as Prime Minister to [[Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;II]] and to recommend that she invite the Leader of the Opposition, [[David Cameron]], to form a government.<ref name="PMRes">{{Cite news |date=11 May 2010 |title=Gordon Brown resigns as UK prime minister |work=BBC News |location=London |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675913.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011070320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675913.stm |archive-date=11 October 2012}}</ref> He resigned as leader of the Labour Party with immediate effect.<ref name=PMRes/>