Bank of England Independence Announcement
Brown grants the Bank of England operational independence over interest-rate decisions.
Role range: 1997-2007
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
James Gordon Brown Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow James Gordon Brown through 261 dated historical records for Great Britain.
James Gordon Brown, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
261Distinct records
2 of 7Page
1997–2001Years on this page
1997
Corporation Tax Reduction
Brown reduces the main corporation-tax rate in his first Budget.
Role range: 1997-2007
New Deal for Young People
Brown announces employment support for young people funded by the windfall tax.
Role range: 1997-2007
Utility Windfall Levy
Brown uses a one-off utility levy to finance employment and training programmes.
Role range: 1997-2007
Windfall Tax
Brown imposes a windfall tax on previously privatised utility companies.
Role range: 1997-2007
First Budget
Brown introduces a windfall tax on privatised utilities and announces employment measures.
Role range: 1997-2007
Single Currency Position
Brown says Britain will not join the single currency during that Parliament.
Role range: 1997-2007
EMU Entry Assessment
Brown concludes that the five economic tests for early euro entry are not met.
Role range: 1997-2007
Five Tests Statement
Brown tells Parliament that euro membership depends on five economic assessments.
Role range: 1997-2007
Five Economic Tests
Brown sets five economic tests governing any decision to join the European single currency.
Role range: 1997-2007
Debt Management Reform
Brown transfers government debt management from the Bank of England to a Treasury agency.
Role range: 1997-2007
Golden Rule
Brown adopts a fiscal rule allowing borrowing only for investment across the economic cycle.
Role range: 1997-2007
Sustainable Investment Rule
Brown sets a rule intended to maintain public debt at a prudent level.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget Policy
The 1997 Budget under James Gordon Brown sets out the Government's taxation, expenditure and borrowing plans.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget
James Gordon Brown presents the 1997 Budget to the House of Commons as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Role range: 1997-2007
1998
UK Debt Management Office
The new Debt Management Office assumes responsibility for government debt operations.
Role range: 1997-2007
Bank of England Act
The Bank of England Act places monetary-policy independence on a statutory basis.
Role range: 1997-2007
Comprehensive Spending Review
Brown introduces a multi-year spending framework linked to departmental objectives.
Role range: 1997-2007
Blair-Brown Political Tensions
Reports describe increasing political tension between Brown's Treasury team and Blair's advisers.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget Policy
The 1998 Budget under James Gordon Brown sets out the Government's taxation, expenditure and borrowing plans.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget
James Gordon Brown presents the 1998 Budget to the House of Commons as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Role range: 1997-2007
1999
Ten-Pence Starting Rate
Brown introduces a ten-percent starting rate of income tax.
Role range: 1997-2007
First Gold Auction
The first Treasury auction begins a programme reducing official gold reserves.
Role range: 1997-2007
Gold Reserve Sales Begin
The Treasury begins a programme of auctions reducing Britain's official gold holdings.
Role range: 1997-2007
Working Families Tax Credit
Brown introduces a tax credit intended to make employment pay for lower-income families.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget Policy
The 1999 Budget under James Gordon Brown sets out the Government's taxation, expenditure and borrowing plans.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget
James Gordon Brown presents the 1999 Budget to the House of Commons as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Role range: 1997-2007
2000
Expanded Public-Service Plans
Brown sets substantial three-year increases for health and education budgets.
Role range: 1997-2007
Spending Review
Brown announces major multi-year increases for health, education and other public services.
Role range: 1997-2007
Marriage to Sarah Macaulay
Brown marries Sarah Macaulay at their home in North Queensferry.
Role range: 1997-2007
Pension Reform Package
Brown combines the pension increase with additional support for older households.
Role range: 1997-2007
State Pension Increase
Brown announces a five-pound weekly increase in the basic state pension.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget Policy
The 2000 Budget under James Gordon Brown sets out the Government's taxation, expenditure and borrowing plans.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget
James Gordon Brown presents the 2000 Budget to the House of Commons as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Role range: 1997-2007
2001
General Election Re-election
Brown retains Dunfermline East and continues as Chancellor.
Role range: 1983-2005
Reappointment as Chancellor
Brown begins a second Labour term as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Role range: 1997-2007
Education Investment Programme
Brown supports increased investment in schools, teachers and early-years services.
Role range: 1997-2007
Children's Tax Credit
Brown expands tax support for households raising children.
Role range: 1997-2007
NHS Funding Expansion
Brown prepares long-term increases in National Health Service expenditure.
Role range: 1997-2007
Budget Policy
The 2001 Budget under James Gordon Brown sets out the Government's taxation, expenditure and borrowing plans.
Role range: 1997-2007
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.