What can we expect from a Brown premiership?

Updated 20.24 Wed Jun 27 2007

Keywords: Gordon Brown, Tony Blair

After ten years as Chancellor, Gordon Brown has now taken the top job, but what can we expect from his Premiership?

It certainly has been a long wait for the man born in 1951 in Giffnock near Glasgow, who stood aside in 1994 to give Mr Blair a clear run at the Labour leadership, in return for a promise that power would be handed over at a future date.

"I want the best of chances for everyone. That is my mission - that if we can fulfil the potential and realise the talents of all our people then I'm absolutely sure that Britain can be the great global success story of this century" - Prime Minister Gordon Brown

After a decade of waiting, in 2004 Mr Blair became the first serving Prime Minister to pre-announce his retirement. Mr Brown could finally prepare himself for the premiership.

As the longest-serving Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Brown claims to have overseen the longest period of sustained economic growth in UK history.

And at times he has pulled off some spectacular coups, such as his surprise announcement that he was giving up control of interest rates to the Bank of England. Even in his most recent Budget there was a surprise cut in the basic rate of income tax - even though the concurrent cut in the bottom rate of tax meant in reality it made little difference to people's take home pay.

As he prepared to enter the door of No 10 for the first time as PM, he told the waiting throng of reporters: "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."

He continued: "I want the best of chances for everyone. That is my mission - that if we can fulfil the potential and realise the talents of all our people then I'm absolutely sure that Britain can be the great global success story of this century."

"As I have travelled round the country and as I have listened and I've learned from the British people - and as prime minister I will continue to listen and learn from the British people - I've heard the need for change.

"Change in our NHS (health system), change in our schools, change with affordable housing, change to build trust in government, change to protect and extend the British way of life. And this need for change cannot be met by the old politics.

"So I will reach out beyond narrow party interests. I will build a government that uses all the talents. I will invite men and women of goodwill to contribute their energies in a new spirit of public service to make our nation what it can be.

"I'm convinced that there is no weakness in Britain today that cannot be overcome by the strengths of the British people.

"On this day I remember words that have stayed with me since my childhood and which matter a great deal to me today: my school motto - I will try my utmost.

"This is my promise to all of the people of Britain. And now let the work of change begin. Thank you."

Mr Brown had always maintained to the middle class that Labour could be trusted to run the economy without fuelling inflation, increasing unemployment, or overspending - legacies of the 1970s.

For all the talk of stormy relations with Mr Blair and his supporters, it is important to remember that Mr Brown is also credited with the co-creation of New Labour.

As such he did not face a challenge from within the Cabinet for the leadership and his candidacy has been backed, in the end, by nearly all prominent Blairites.

What has been significant is Mr Brown's decision to distance himself from New Labour's legacy of spin. Rather than trying to give their man a fashionable makeover, Team Brown have been happy to concentrate instead on his political record and economic success.

Gordon Brown is seen as a politician with a more measured approach, perhaps in contrast to the showmanship of Mr Blair. As such he is proposing a different style of government from that of Mr Blair's much criticised 'presidential-style' government.

Away from style Mr Brown has been careful to not suggest any significant policy U-turns or radical breakaways from New Labour.

In terms of foreign policy Mr Brown remains committed to the big issue of the Iraq War. He remains pro-American, but has said that he wants a more "solid but not slavish" relationship with Washington.

So, now, the Blair dynasty is over and both the cast and landscape has changed dramatically the question is for Gordon Brown, does the song still sound the same ?