Since his resignation, Mr Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister and Chancellor, has kept himself close to the public's view. Despite failing to secure a new term in power for Labour (even with his resignation), the former Premier is still showing much of the bullish resilience he displayed in office.
The former Labour leader's comeback came with a speech on behalf of his constituents - and the British shipbuilding industries - on the matter of maintenance for British aircraft carriers (BBC, 2010). Mr Brown seemed to take a good deal of confidence from the reception he received for this speech. So much so that his name had been one of those in consideration for Head of the IMF, until an alleged intervention by Mr Cameron blocked his appointment (Stewart, 2011).
However his role in combating the financial crisis while in office, back in 2008, was so prominent that he nevertheless received the Chair of another economic policy committee, the World Economic Forum (WEF, April 2011). In this role he has been a voice in the background of global economics, pushing for a more International response to the ongoing crisis, calling for nations to recognise their interdependence (WEF, September 2011).
Mr Brown has stressed that European nations need to 'invest in infrastructure', a economic policy clearly at odds with the more conservative austerity programs dominating policy-making in the largely conservative governments of the EU (Guardian, 2011).
This quietly made case is good for the Labour party opposition in Britain, and the policy framework it is developing as alternative measures to deep cuts (Kettle, 2011; Balls, 2011).
The ex-premier is using the influence of that role well to demonstrate an important aspect of leadership. This particular aspect is known as framing work, describing the way a leader tries to shape both the identity of a group & its aims - managing the relationship, not just between leaders and followers, but also relations between followers and the future. In all seeking to create a unified message that those who identify with the group can get behind (Johnson et al, 2001).
Mr Brown's work is invaluable to the Labour Party in their attempts to break out of the routine of opposition and present a real alternative that people can understand and get behind.
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References:
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+ BBC Democracy Live, 'Brown makes first Commons speech since leaving No 10'; 8mins 10; 1 November 2010.
+ Heather Stewart's 'Gordon Brown wins economic consolation prize after IMF rebuff'; in The Guardian; 22 April 2011.
+ World Economic Forum, 'Gordon Brown to Join World Economic Forum as Chair of New Policy and Initiatives Coordination Board'; 22 April 2011.
+ World Economic Forum, 'Globally Coordinated Action Needed to Put World Growth Back on Sustainable Path'; 16 September 2011.
+ Sheila Pulham, Chris Fenn, Garry Blight & Guardian Research Department's 'Left, right, left: how political shifts have altered the map of Europe'; in The Guardian; 28 July 2011.
+ Martin Kettle's 'Ed Miliband has offered an alternative – but will anyone vote for it?'; in The Guardian; 29 September 2011.
+ Labour conference: Ed Balls unveils five-point plan for growth - video; in The Guardian; 26 September 2011.
+ Alan Johnson, Colin Barker & Michael Lavalette's 'Leadership & Social Movements';
Manchester University Press, 2001.
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