"This is a book of unusual political significance. It presents for the first time a plausible inside view of the evolution of the relationship that has been the axis of British politics for more than a decade."

--Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics

"Peston has written a book which everyone interested in serious politics - the politics of ideas - should read."

--Roy Hattersley, Observer

In Brown’s Britain, award-winning journalist Robert Peston explains for the first time the REAL nature of the relationship between Blair and Brown. With the ease of a born storyteller, he gives the first truly authoritative account of the extraordinary deal they did back in 1994, the subsequent collapse of trust between them, and the growing crisis as they became completely alienated from each other in the run-up to the 2005 election.

This book, for which Peston was granted unprecedented access to the Chancellor and his friends and colleagues, draws back the veil on the brooding man who has been Britain’s longest serving and arguably most powerful Chancellor in more than 100 years. Filled with telling quotes and unexpected insights, it takes you right to the heart of the secret power games that go on behind the gates of Downing Street, and looks ahead to what Brown will do when he becomes Prime Minister in name as well as deed.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE: An inherited mission

CHAPTER TWO: Losing the leadership, winning power

CHAPTER THREE: Capturing the Treasury

CHAPTER FOUR: How the Bank of England made a credible socialist of Gordon Brown

CHAPTER FIVE: How Brown won the confidence of the financial markets so that he could be a real socialist

CHAPTER SIX: "Clear and unambiguous" - how Brown took control of the historic decision on whether to join the euro

CHAPTER SEVEN: "The man in the white coat" - how Brown kept the UK out of the euro

CHAPTER EIGHT: Progressive universalism -- redistribution in the age of globalisation

CHAPTER NINE: Brown’s Britain

CHAPTER TEN: End of the deal

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Heir apparent, prince regent or nearly man?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX