Gordon Brown was born in Kirkaldy, Scotland. Kirkaldy had a long history of mining and heavy industry, but, as the young Gordon was growing up these industries were closing down. Thus Gordon, became aware of unemployment and poverty and this affected his political beliefs and attitudes; it was perhaps as expected that Gordon was encouraged to join the Labour party. The town had a long tradition of Labour support, and given his growing interest in politics, it seemed the natural choice. His early life, was also influenced by the strong support of his parents. His father was a local minister and took an active interest in helping others. He was well known in the local community and his active service to others, acted as an inspiration to Gordon.
As a teenager Gordon had a great interest in football, supporting Raith Rovers. He used to sell programmes at Raith Rovers to earn money; he has remained a loyal supporter ever since. At school, he shone, as a bright, intelligent and likeable student. He passed his O levels and then A levels before going to Edinburgh university at the very young age of 15. He later emerged with a first class degree, and other prizes. He became the youngest rector of Edinburgh University. Perhaps ironically, Gordon Brown took a great interest in the early founders of the Labour party and their ideology. He wrote a book about James Maxton, one of the early founders of the Labour Party. His book "Values, visions and Voices" was an in depth look at the Socialist ideology of the first Labour MPs.
Gordon Brown was elected to parliament in 1983, for his constituency Dunfermline East. He had an 11,000 majority. This was in the same election that Tony Blair was elected in Newcastle. At the time the Labour party's manifesto made a commitment to nuclear disarmament, nationalisation and higher taxes for the rich. Under, Michael Foot, it was an undoubtedly Socialist agenda; but, electorally Labour suffered. They gained only 24% of the vote and lost out as the Conservative party, under Mrs Thatcher was re-elected.
The next 10 years saw a real decade of turbulence in the Labour Party. Firstly, hard left factions like Militant, tried to steer the party to an ideologically socialist agenda. However, the new leader Neil Kinnock, saw that this would be electoral suicide and he tried valiantly to steer the party more to the centre, ditching some of the socialist rhetoric of the past. Gordon Brown, was a firm supporter of Neil Kinnock's agenda. Both men shared a common belief in a non dogmatic social democratic agenda. Both, wanted to maintain the Labour party as the part of the poor and underprivilged, but also maintain its electoral potential.