Best of the Spectator Coffee House Shots: why Gordon Brown has never been so relevant
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Feb 14, 2026 James Macintyre, author and political historian who wrote Power With Purpose about Gordon Brown, discusses Brown’s evolving reputation and why now is the moment to reassess him. He covers Brown’s fraught ties with Peter Mandelson, shifting relations with Tony Blair, Brown’s views on Keir Starmer and Labour today, and how his moral ambitions sat alongside controversial operatives.
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Brown Deserves Reappraisal
- Gordon Brown's reputation has improved and he deserves a fresh reassessment after years in office.
- James Macintyre argues the timing for a new biography was right to reassess Brown's legacy.
Warm Call Amid Big Feud
- Brown rang Peter Mandelson to express sympathy when Mandelson's mother died, showing personal warmth amid political feuds.
- Their relationship began close, later fell out in 1994, and Brown then surprisingly brought Mandelson back in 2008.
Pragmatic Reintegration Backfired
- Brown brought Mandelson back in 2008 partly from desperation during the financial crash and for Blairite cover.
- The move initially helped politically but later proved problematic given Mandelson's distractions.
