Brown: The quiet leader

Gordon Brown is set to be crowned Labour Party leader, and thus the next UK prime minister, at this week’s party conference. Although he has spent the past ten years in the Treasury, where he successfully turned the UK economy into one of the strongest and most vibrant in Europe, little is known about what to expect from him as prime minister in terms of policy direction and style.  Compared to his predecessor Tony Blair, he will certainly be less keen to stand in the media spotlight, more pragmatic and focussed on concrete issues at hand. This more down-to-earth style, while less exciting for the media, might actually result in him being perceived as a more honest and serious politician than his headline-thirsty predecessor or main opposition challenger, Conservative Party leader David Cameron.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has recently demonstrated how a refocus on politics from personality can pay off, as she is now considered one of Europe’s leading politicians.  Being a quiet, low-profile leader might help Brown to regain the public’s confidence in politicians and would assist him in implementing whatever policies issues he decides to address.