A puzzle of ideas and policy: Gordon Brown as prime minister

Beech, Matt

Abstract

This article argues that Gordon Brown as prime minister is a puzzle of ideas and policy. This observation is most notably supported by his failure to espouse an ideological narrative for his government. Brown the intellectually literate Labour leader has not constructed his idea of the 'good society'. This in turn has had a negative impact upon the effectiveness of his leadership and the unity of his government. The article highlights the implications of this problem; discusses the nature of Brown's politics through analysing the works of Lee and Hickson; and asserts the virtues of crafting a coherent ideological narrative for government. The article concludes by surveying the prospects of a Brown-led Labour Party in the forthcoming political era - an era which is likely to be one dominated by the Conservative Party under the leadership of David Cameron.

Citation

Beech, M. (2009). A puzzle of ideas and policy: Gordon Brown as prime minister. Policy studies : the journal of the Policy Studies Institute, 30(1), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442870802576124

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2009-02
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Policy Studies
• Print ISSN: 0144-2872
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-16
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01442870802576124
• Keywords: Political Science and International Relations
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/460192
• Contract Date: Nov 13, 2014