Profile: Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown is a towering but controversial political figure in the modern day Labour Party.

The son of a Church of Scotland minister, Brown, born in 1951, has something of the manse about him.

His powerful oration at the funeral of his former political colleague Robin Cook showed that Brown was as comfortable speaking from the pulpit as he is from the despatch box in the House of Commons.

But equally friends say the man who is most likely to lead Labour has a softer, more emotional hinterland beyond the sometimes obsessive character who is both respected and revered on the Westminster stage.

With a circle of friends which extends beyond the Scottish Labour mafia, of whom he is undisputed chief after eight years at the Treasury, Brown also mixes in literary and media circles.

A former broadcast journalist, who has won plaudits for his written journalism, Brown's friends include TV presenter Kirsty Wark, broadcaster Sheena Macdonald and the bestselling children's author J K Rowling.

Perhaps prompted by polls which showed the public thinks he lacks the charisma to win the next election, and suggestions he was behind an attempt to force Tony Blair from office, Brown embarked on something of a charm offensive in 2006.

In his speech to Labour conference, Brown sought to address the personality issue in two somewhat contradictory ways - by insisting that there is more to politics than image, while also talking in some depth about his family history and how that had shaped his beliefs.

"It's right that people should know where I come from and for what I stand," he said.

Relationships

Despite some claims that he was a natural bachelor, Brown was romantically linked to several women prior to his marriage to public relations consultant Sarah Macauley.

Educated at Kirkcaldy High School before attending Edinburgh University, he gained first class honours and then a doctorate.

He was also rector of the university and chairman of the University Court, where political associates included future MPs Cook and George Foulkes.

Eyebrows were raised when the future chancellor dated Princess Marguerite of Romania, the eldest daughter of ex-King Michael of Romania.

The princess later remarked that her relationship with the student activist was more "politics, politics, politics" than raw passion.

Religion

Despite being a committed Christian, Brown rarely speaks of his faith.

The chancellor appears keen to keep his religion a private matter - one which only spills out at weddings and funerals.

However his religious beliefs have given Brown a strong moral code. Major speeches, most notably those on Africa and child poverty, have been peppered with references to injustice.

Speaking at the Labour conference in Brighton, he said his parents were his "inspiration", and had provided him with a moral compass which taught him that everyone has a duty to make use of their talents.

Scholarly and workmanlike, Brown has stated a preference for pouring over economic textbooks in Cape Cod than devouring soft fiction in Caribbean holiday homes.

His own books include 'Maxton', 'The politics of nationalism and devolution' and 'Where there is greed'.

Brown has also edited a number of books including 'John Smith: Life and soul of the party' and 'Values, visions and voices'.

Family

The birth and then death of his first daughter revealed the chancellor's human side. Baby Jennifer died of a brain haemorrhage in January 2002 after being born prematurely.

After a second pregnancy the chancellor's wife gave birth to their second child John, who the chancellor delighted in telling waiting media weighed in at eight pounds and one ounce when he was born in October 2003.

Another son, James, followed in 2006, with Brown telling reporters there was "nothing more important" than being a father. James was later diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, but the family said they were "very optimistic" about his prospects.

Rather than revealing a new side to his character, friends say that in talking about his delight at fatherhood Brown was displaying the good humour and warmth he has shown in private in over three decades as a Labour foot soldier.

Beyond politics, Brown takes a keen interest in football, tennis and film.

A fan of Raith Rovers, the iron chancellor found a prudent way of pursuing football as a child.

Alongside his brother, the young Brown used to sell programmes. "You got in free for the second half and they paid you as well," he said.

Flawed

However some of his critics fear Brown's personal character traits could undermine his premiership.

He was famously described as "psychologically flawed" by one anonymous senior source said to have been close to Tony Blair.

With a natural dislike of compromise, former colleagues say the chancellor can be stiff, or just plain rude, to those outside his increasingly tribal inner circle.

One ex-Downing Street adviser said he found claims about the chancellor's clubbable side "impossible to reconcile" with the unsociable figure with whom he had mixed.

And a former minister, who was initially a Brownite but transferred allegiance to Blair, remarked that the chancellor was "failing to play the game".

"Gordon has long since stopped doing touchy feely with colleagues. He has also become a politician for whom dictat is easier than dialogue," he said.

"That could spell interesting times ahead unless he reconnects politically with his more humane side."

That argument was also given some force by former home secretary Charles Clarke, who said Brown had "psychological" issues and was a "control freak" who lacked confidence and could not manage people in a "collegiate" way.

The charges against Brown were repeated by the usually circumspect Lord Turnbull, former cabinet secretary and Brown's permanent secretary at the Treasury for four years.

Lord Turnbull said Brown operated with a "Stalinist ruthlessness", and had a "very cynical view of mankind and his colleagues". Of discussions with Cabinet colleagues, he said: "His view is that it is just not worth it and 'they will get what I decide'."

Change

Some suggest that Brown wants friends and colleagues to be compliant at best and subservient at worst.

They fear that his strict Calvinist trait of "I know best" means he will attempt to run every government department from inside a Downing Street lair - a pattern already begun during his time at the Treasury.

Others, however, believe that behind the scenes Brown displays a gentler, more pragmatic approach and expect him to govern with a lighter rod than his critics fear.

Whether a change of office will mean a change of character remains to be seen.