A compelling book that examines Gordon Brown’s rise to power, his
years as Chancellor, and his dramatic decision to give the Bank of
England independence
‘An essential read for anyone who wants to properly understand
political and economic policy developments over the past 15 years
and enjoy some good insights about the future.’
Neil Kinnock, Vice President of the European Commission and
former leader of the Labour Party.
‘For twenty years one of the most sceptical and authoritative
voices on economic affairs in the British press.’
Robert Harris, best selling author.
‘A splendidly vivid account of the background, outlook and
record of the most powerful Chancellor of modern times.’
Anthony Howard, biographer and political commentator.
The economic policy of new Labour has been fundamental to its
success. Gordon Brown has been at the very heart of new Labour’s
economic policy since the late 1980s and has been highly
instrumental in convincing both the British public and the City
that a Labour government can run the economy responsibly. He has
generally been a popular and well-respected Chancellor — during his
early years in office, he was highly praised for his prudence and
yet now, well into the second term of office many of the issues on
which the Blair government was elected, such as health and
education, have not yet been satisfactorily addressed, and Gordon
Brown is now being criticised for what many see as his imprudence
in handling the nationâ??s finances.
Examining how successful Labourâ??s economic policy has
really been, when allowing for the good fortune of a world-wide
economic boom, Keegan provides insights into the policies of new
Labour, Gordon Brown’s rise to power, the impact of his policies
and how future policies might influence the economy.
* Written by a well-known and highly respected journalist who has
been close to the heart of politics in Britain for many years, and
who is thus able to offer an insiderâ??s view of how policy
developed in both opposition and the Government
* Examines the professional relationships and private friction
between Brown, other members of the Cabinet and the Bank of
England
* Includes much previously unpublished material
William Keegan is Associate Editor (since 1983) and Economics
Editor (since 1977) of The Observer newspaper. A graduate of
Trinity College, Cambridge, he has previously held posts with the
Financial Times, Daily Mail and Bank of England Economic
Intelligence Department. He has sat on a range of advisory
committees, including the BBC Advisory Committee on Business and
Industrial Affairs, the Employment Institute Council and the
Department of Economics Advisory Board, University of Cambridge. He
is visiting Professor of Journalism at Sheffield University and is
the author of a variety of successful books.
Содержание
Preface.
Acknowledgements.
Introduction.
1. A prudent background.
2. 1983—1987.
3. 1987—1992.
4. Labour and the ERM.
5. From Black Wednesday to the Granita restaurant.
6. From Granita to government: the advent of Mr Balls.
7. In central banks we trust.
8. Battle of the Titans.
9. The independent bank in action.
10. Gordon Brown’s Treasury.
11. Getting and spending.
12. ‘Euro-wars’.
Conclusion — ‘It’s a long game’.
Notes and references.
Index.
Об авторе
William Keegan is an Associate Editor senior columnist of the
Observer newspaper. he is a well-Known and highly respected
journalist who has been close to the heart of politics and economic
policy in Britain for many years. He was previously with the Bank
of England’s Economic Intelligence Department and before that was
Economics Correspondent of the Financial Times. He has sat
on a range of advisory committees, including the BBC Advisory
Committee on Business and Industrial Affairs, the Employment
Institute Council and the Department of Applied Economics Advisory
Board, University of Cambridge, He is Visiting Professor of
Journalism at Sheffield University and a Governor of the the
National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
William Keegan is the author of many successful books, including
2066 and All that, The Spectre of Capitalism, Mrs Thatcher’s
Economic Experiment, Mr Lawson’s Gamble and Britain Without
Oil.