Al Hayat article on Gordon Brown and Middle East

Article in Al Hayat

Gordon Brown remains an enigma  - Susannah Tarbush
24 June 2007

Extract:

Brown himself remains an enigma. As Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British understanding (CAABU), told Al Hayat: "there is an acute degree of uncertainty even within the ranks of the Labour Party. Although Gordon Brown has been a hugely powerful Chancellor of the Exchequer, with a firm control over British domestic policies for the last ten years, few people are really clear what Gordon Brown the prime Minister will do."

Doyle adds: "In the foreign affairs field this is even tougher to anticipate. In the carve up of British politics it was Blair who had control over Britain's international relations and Brown stayed out, hence his low profile on issues such as Iraq and Lebanon. The reality may well be that even Brown is not sure what  his foreign policy will be as he, like so many in New Labour, has precious little understanding of international relations albeit outside the economic field."

Doyle notes that Brown has been busy doing the groundwork for his premiership in the last few years, with his first visit to Africa, Indian Israel and the occupied territories. "Brown may well want to concentrate on domestic issues, conscious of the widespread criticism of Blair's internationalism and tendency to intervene militarily. However, Iraq and Afghanistan cannot be ignored and there will be acute and sustained pressure on him to steer a different course."

Nevertheless, one should not expect anything too drastic here. "Brown has a consistent record of interest in US politics and has close relations with the administration. He is thought to be more Euro sceptic than Blair."