Gordon Brown Appointed UK Global Finance Envoy

Brown, 75, has been in regular contact with Starmer and his team since the current prime minister took office, according to a Labour figure quoted in The Times. The role involves advising on how global finance cooperation can build a stronger Britain by boosting the country's security and resilience.

The appointment was announced this weekend. Brown previously served as chancellor of the exchequer for the longest period in modern history before becoming prime minister. He has maintained a focus on public service since leaving office, including work with the United Nations and World Health Organisation, often without salary.

Both have been described as serious and hard-working. Brown has been noted for his diligence and devotion to public service, qualities that reportedly appealed to Starmer when selecting advisers. In contrast to former prime minister Tony Blair, who has also advised Starmer and issued policy recommendations through the Tony Blair Institute, Starmer appears to have chosen to follow Brown's counsel more closely.

A recent example cited by The Times was Brown's intervention that contributed to the government's U-turn on the two-child benefit cap.

Since leaving office, Brown has lived in Scotland and worked on initiatives such as the Multibank project to redistribute surplus goods to needy families in the UK. He has avoided paid advisory roles with financial firms. The Times reported that Brown investigated leaks of classified information to Jeffrey Epstein and sent dossiers to police.

Part of his new remit will include efforts to secure low-cost funding for defence spending across nations. Brown's experience during the global financial crisis, where he coordinated international action to support banking systems, is cited as relevant to the role.

The appointment occurs after Labour's performance in local elections. Brown is viewed as a figure on the party's soft left. Brown's time as prime minister included leading international responses to the 2008 financial crisis. His government was defeated in the 2010 election, leading to a hung parliament. The new position brings him back into an official advisory capacity within government.