The end of Brown: A true conviction politician
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Talha J Ahmad
GORDON Brown, British Prime Minister and leader of the Labour party, has announced his resignation to pave the way for a progressive alliance to form government. This announcement comes truly as a surprise to most observers of British politics. Nevertheless, the announcement lights the lamp of hope for the vast majority of the British people who opposed the Conservative Party and their 'rich favouring'
policies.
Brown is a towering figure in the modern British politics. He has been the longest serving Chancellor of Exchequer chairing over enormous growth in the economy, public service and poverty reduction. His policies steered the UK from the chaotic days of Major government to relative affluence, stability and economic prosperity. His commitment to social mobility and to reduce widening gap between rich and poor has seen billions of pounds pumped into the National Health Service (NHS), schools and other efforts to help deprived communities. True that under Labour, gap between rich and poor has widened but this was at a rate much slower than it was under Conservative.
The spectacular success of Brown as chancellor has seen equally spectacular failure under his premiership. But much of this was beyond his control. He inherited a deeply unpopular government, hugely divided party and apathetic public. So it cannot be said that the financial meltdown experienced by British economy is as a result of his failure. Rather, it was the capable leadership of Brown which made it possible to save the collapse of the banking sector, to prevent loss of job at exponential rate and provide a global leadership much needed at the time of financial crisis. Brown offered global leadership and commanded huge respect in the Western world. It is unfortunate, therefore, that he has to go for something that had little to do with him.
Brown was not simply a successful Chancellor and a successor to Tony Blair. What many would not perhaps know now-a-days is that Brown was the senior figure, in some way the mentor of Mr Blair. Brown was amongst the key architects of New Labour Movement which has transformed the British politics. But the most important of all, Brown is a conviction politician driven by a sense of principle and ideology, his 'moral compass'.
Born to a church minister, Brown had a humble beginning compared with most other prime ministers. He grew up to learn loving people and to commit own energy, talent and ambition for the betterment of the ordinary people. Inspired by the values he learned from his father, he went on to make many impossible events possible. Among many legacies he will leave is the introduction of minimum wage and his campaign against apartheid South Africa.
There were policies that Brown had which I disliked personally. So no question that he had his fair share of negatives. But Brown was a true conviction politician, the rare breed in the age of career politics. He inherited a hugely unpopular government from a hugely unpopular prime minister. He unfairly had to bear the legacy of two unpopular wars and numerous other unpopular initiatives. But he took the fight on and fought like a true lion. When the Conservatives seemed to have been flying high with their victory unquestionable, Brown made a come back, he saved the face of Labour party. While he did not win the election, given the circumstances he clearly had not lost it either. And if one looks at the local election results, Labour has earned one of the best results ever gaining 15 more councils while conservatives lost 8.
It is sad, of course, to see this great politician to leave, even worse that he had to do so for reasons beyond his control. But Brown leaves a legacy, an inspiring example and a commendable act for others to follow. There has been numerous attempts by many within his own rank to see him off. Brown faced those challenges with much success. Nothing there new to suggest that it would have been different this time. If he wanted to, it is more likely that he will be able to cling onto the leadership. Given his success, though not enough, it would not be unjustified for him to cling onto the leadership. But he has done what any dignified man would do: Brown steps aside in the national interest. Brown sacrifices his own political career to pave the way for a progressive coalition to take shape. Thus Brown saves the country from uncertainty, instability and potential re-run at the poll at a time when the country can hardly afford it.
E-mail : talha.j.ahmad@gmail.com
GORDON Brown, British Prime Minister and leader of the Labour party, has announced his resignation to pave the way for a progressive alliance to form government. This announcement comes truly as a surprise to most observers of British politics. Nevertheless, the announcement lights the lamp of hope for the vast majority of the British people who opposed the Conservative Party and their 'rich favouring'
policies.
Brown is a towering figure in the modern British politics. He has been the longest serving Chancellor of Exchequer chairing over enormous growth in the economy, public service and poverty reduction. His policies steered the UK from the chaotic days of Major government to relative affluence, stability and economic prosperity. His commitment to social mobility and to reduce widening gap between rich and poor has seen billions of pounds pumped into the National Health Service (NHS), schools and other efforts to help deprived communities. True that under Labour, gap between rich and poor has widened but this was at a rate much slower than it was under Conservative.
The spectacular success of Brown as chancellor has seen equally spectacular failure under his premiership. But much of this was beyond his control. He inherited a deeply unpopular government, hugely divided party and apathetic public. So it cannot be said that the financial meltdown experienced by British economy is as a result of his failure. Rather, it was the capable leadership of Brown which made it possible to save the collapse of the banking sector, to prevent loss of job at exponential rate and provide a global leadership much needed at the time of financial crisis. Brown offered global leadership and commanded huge respect in the Western world. It is unfortunate, therefore, that he has to go for something that had little to do with him.
Brown was not simply a successful Chancellor and a successor to Tony Blair. What many would not perhaps know now-a-days is that Brown was the senior figure, in some way the mentor of Mr Blair. Brown was amongst the key architects of New Labour Movement which has transformed the British politics. But the most important of all, Brown is a conviction politician driven by a sense of principle and ideology, his 'moral compass'.
Born to a church minister, Brown had a humble beginning compared with most other prime ministers. He grew up to learn loving people and to commit own energy, talent and ambition for the betterment of the ordinary people. Inspired by the values he learned from his father, he went on to make many impossible events possible. Among many legacies he will leave is the introduction of minimum wage and his campaign against apartheid South Africa.
There were policies that Brown had which I disliked personally. So no question that he had his fair share of negatives. But Brown was a true conviction politician, the rare breed in the age of career politics. He inherited a hugely unpopular government from a hugely unpopular prime minister. He unfairly had to bear the legacy of two unpopular wars and numerous other unpopular initiatives. But he took the fight on and fought like a true lion. When the Conservatives seemed to have been flying high with their victory unquestionable, Brown made a come back, he saved the face of Labour party. While he did not win the election, given the circumstances he clearly had not lost it either. And if one looks at the local election results, Labour has earned one of the best results ever gaining 15 more councils while conservatives lost 8.
It is sad, of course, to see this great politician to leave, even worse that he had to do so for reasons beyond his control. But Brown leaves a legacy, an inspiring example and a commendable act for others to follow. There has been numerous attempts by many within his own rank to see him off. Brown faced those challenges with much success. Nothing there new to suggest that it would have been different this time. If he wanted to, it is more likely that he will be able to cling onto the leadership. Given his success, though not enough, it would not be unjustified for him to cling onto the leadership. But he has done what any dignified man would do: Brown steps aside in the national interest. Brown sacrifices his own political career to pave the way for a progressive coalition to take shape. Thus Brown saves the country from uncertainty, instability and potential re-run at the poll at a time when the country can hardly afford it.
E-mail : talha.j.ahmad@gmail.com