Brown to give ‘vivid account’ of political and personal life in memoir
GORDON Brown is to publish his memoirs this autumn, billed as a vivid account of his time at the top of British politics and the personal tragedies he has suffered.
The former prime minister said he hoped his insights at a critical moment for Britain’s future might “further the cause of progressive politics”.
Mr Brown’s office made it clear that all proceeds will go to charity, although a source close to the Scot declined to say how much he was being paid. As yet there is no title to the book.
David Cameron is currently working on his own memoirs, for which he is believed to have secured £800,000. Former chancellor George Osborne is also said to be hoping to get a publishing deal for his memoirs.
However, the biggest payout for a memoir in recent times is thought to have gone to Tony Blair, who secured a reported £4.6 million book deal, well ahead of the £3.5m Margaret Thatcher received for hers.
Publisher Bodley Head said the book by Mr Brown, Britain’s longestserving chancellor, would tell the story of a “remarkable life in politics”.
It said Mr Brown, 66, would “draw on his experience as chancellor from 1997 to 2007 and as prime minister during the economic crisis of 2008 to offer unique insights into the profound economic transformation that has done so much to change Britain in recent decades, the deeper causes of the crash and its ongoing legacy”.
Mr Brown noted: “We are at a critical moment in history. In sharing my experiences over the past four decades and the lessons I have learned as a politician, economist, chancellor and prime minister, I hope to shed light on the tumultuous change we are now facing and to offer insights that may be useful in furthering the cause of progressive politics.”
Westminster-watchers will be keen to see how deeply Mr Brown touches upon his fiery relationship with Mr Blair, the ups and downs of the 2010 General Election, including when the former Labour leader hit the headlines after he dubbed one voter a bigot, and his tub-thumping role in the Scottish independence campaign, particularly in drawing up The Vow on more powers for Holyrood.
The publishers said that Mr Brown will also include many personal experiences, including his upbringing in Kirkcaldy as the son of a church minister, the near loss of his eyesight just as he was going to university, the loss of his daughter Jennifer within days of her birth and how that tragedy was transformed into hope for hundreds of parents and babies.
“At the heart of every chapter are the principles and values that have guided him throughout,” said Bodley Head.