Born in Glasgow, he became a Labour MP in 1983. As Shadow Chancellor (1992–97), he achieved a reputation for economic competence that was important in Labour’s election victory in 1997. He then became Chancellor of the Exchequer (1997–2007) and presided over almost continuous economic growth despite increased taxation. This was combined from 2001 with increased spending on education and health care. The longest-serving Chancellor for almost 200 years, Brown exercised considerable power outside his department and became Prime Minister when Tony Blair resigned in 2007. His premiership was dominated by the Credit Crunch and its consequences. Brown lost the general election in 2010 and immediately resigned as leader of the Labour party. He stood down from Parliament in 2015.