How would it have turned out?

[Loosehead]

If Brown had been leader of noo Labour in 1997, would they have won then? would they have won 2 more terms? At least his Tonyness had a personality, old charisma bypass is as dour as they come.

[DarkMajes71c]

I think what you wrote sums it up... i know i wouldnt vote for him even back then.

[ludwig]

I think anyone would have beaten the tories in 1997. People were heartily sick of them, just as they are now sick of Labour. If Brown had stood at the last election though, that might have been a different matter.

The fact is he now only has the job because of a gentleman's agreement, not because anyone voted for him.
He was OK when he could skulk around in the background, sullenly coveting Tony Blair's job. Now he's got to be the front man and face up when the s*its hitting the fan, and he's no good at it.

Luckily he won't be around for too long. Either his own party or the electorate will boot him out at some point or other.

[Lonnie]

As ludwig says, anyone could've beaten John Major, but I think Browns problems are a culmination of his Chancellorship, and Blairs Premiership, and its coming home to roost.

Blair got out just in time, most of the problems now, are the result of the past eleven years of fiscal mismanagement, and bad party leadership.

[sp1214]

The working population has got fed up with all these giveaways and free handouts and would now prefer to be taxed to the hilt and see the rich living off the back of their sweated labours.

[DrFilth]

there will be no change then ???????

[jno]

Personally, I don't vote for personalities; politics isn't Big Brother. I couldn't care less how dour a prime minister is if he does the job. Brown did the job as chancellor but he isn't coping with his current one. As I also wouldn't trust Cameron as far as I could spit him, I shall have a bit of a dilemma next polling day.

But to answer your question, yes, Brown would have won in 1997. He might have done a better job then - less global turmoil all around him - and have been a happier chappie today; who knows.

[Kromovaracun]

Brown would likely have won, but he may not have won the greatest electoral victory in British history since 1832 as Blair did.

As for how the country would be... domestically it would be pretty similar (assuming Brown made most of the appointments Blair did), as Brown has essentially run this country domestically for the past 11 years. I honestly don't know how he would've reacted on foreign affairs. Outside of Iraq, Blair had several minor successes in that area but I'm not sure if Brown would've been similar...

As ludwig says, anyone could've beaten John Major,

Kinnock couldn't...

[jake-the-peg]

I was about to say that I'm not sure charisma is a requirement for being a PM but I think on second thoughts I might be wrong.

Sad but true, some people seem to loose their brains in the pooling booth and think they're voting for a dinner party guest rather than someone to run the country.

Thing is - think back to '97 - could Brown have brokered the Good Friday agreement and Peace in NI?

I certainly doubt anyone in the Tory party could have done it without being lynched by their back benchers - but I'm not sure Brown would have had the sheer force of personality to have done it.

I think Lonnies idea of Brown's financial mismanagement is funny though - which Tory chancellor would he have preferred? Lawson? Lamont? Howe?

Remind mewhen we last had a recession

[hermionediam]

I've heard on good authority that he has bad breath, BO and is a closet sneaky.

Typical politician.

[Lonnie]

jake, I believe Labour took over a very healthy economy. then stuck with the Tories financial plans for two years, during which half our gold reserveds were sold off, (needlessly), and the only way he kept the countryb afloat, was by raiding pensions, and taxing virtually everything he could think of.
Financial Mismanagement is putting it politely.

[sambro]

b?llocks you lot,gordon was the greatest chancellor weve ever had. how much is your house worth? i rest my case.

[jno]

Sambro's answer is a fair one. How many people can seriously say they are worse off than when Labour took power? I'm sure some will be, and those trying to buy a first home will be finding it very difficult; but most have done well, and house prices, for better or worse, are a big part of it.