Gordon Brown and The Election That Never Was - PART 1 | Political Currency Podcast | FULL EPISODE

In 2007, Gordon Brown became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom without an election. As Tony Blair stepped down after a decade in power, Brown transitioned from Chancellor of the Exchequer at Number 11 Downing Street to Prime Minister at Number 10, accepting Queen Elizabeth II’s invitation to form a government. This unprecedented rise to power occurred without a single vote cast, marking a pivotal moment in UK political history. Gordon Brown’s first months in office were marked by chaos. Before his first Prime Minister's Questions, he was faced with terrorism attacks in London and Glasgow. Soon after, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease and widespread flooding swept across the UK. To top it off, the financial crisis loomed large, with the run on Northern Rock serving as an early warning of the impending economic crash. In this episode, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by Deborah Mattinson, Gordon Brown’s chief pollster, to discuss this turbulent period. Deborah and Ed, both trusted advisors to Brown, offer insights into the early days of his leadership. Meanwhile, George takes us behind the scenes in the Tory camp, reflecting on David Cameron’s struggles to challenge Brown’s leadership. We also hear from Andy Coulson, the Tory head of communications during this era, who shares his perspective on the political landscape at the time. Watch episode 2 here:    • Gordon Brown and The Election That Never W...   All 3 episodes are already available, ad-free for Political Currency Gold subscribers. And, you can now join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch. Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency ------- 🎧 LISTEN to Political Currency now, wherever you get your podcasts! On the Political Currency podcast, Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind closed doors into the rooms where decisions are made. Having battled it out across the despatch box, the former Chancellor and shadow chancellor now meet in the studio to discuss the decisions that affect the nation’s pockets. Our frenemies have the knowledge and experience to explain how good politics follows the economics, and expose how the powerful become powerless when faced with market forces and political currents they can’t control. New episodes available every Thursday. Our bonus EMQs - questions episode - drops on Mondays. Find Political Currency wherever you get your podcasts.