Gordon Brown

Power with Purpose

De: James Macintyre

'A serious and consequential analysis of a serious and consequential politician' Alastair Campbell
'Fascinating and well written' Matthew Parris
'Tells us more than we have ever known about this highly significant figure' Shelagh Fogarty

A compelling new biography of former prime minister Gordon Brown, a dominant figure in the Labour Party for five decades.

More than fifteen years since he left Downing Street, Brown continues to wield significant influence among the current generation. Polls regularly suggest he is the most popular living former prime minister. Yet his short time in Number 10 ended in bitterness and election defeat. In James Macintyre's fascinating new biography, he provides a definitive portrait of a true political giant. Based on unique access to Brown's personal archive and interviews with his family, friends, colleagues and political rivals - including Tony Blair, David Cameron and Alastair Campbell, among many others - Macintyre reveals the private man behind the public figure. We gain unprecedented insight into his family life, his faith and what it is that still motivates him. From his political birth as a teenage student at Edinburgh University to his ongoing efforts to improve children's education around the world, Brown's passionate engagement in politics remains undimmed. Macintyre takes the reader to the heart of the action, providing fresh perspectives on key events in Brown's career, whether it's the battle for the Labour leadership in 1994, the invasion of Iraq, the challenges of coping with the global financial crash in 2008 or the Scottish independence and Brexit referendums. Gordon Brown: Power with Purpose not only outlines Brown's formidable legacy but shows how, even as he reaches the age of seventy-five, there is still a powerful purpose in all he does that can inspire anyone who wants to create meaningful change.

©2026 James Macintyre (P)2026 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc