Gordon Brown 'third worst PM since 1945', poll of historians finds
Gordon Brown has been voted the third worst British Prime Minister since the Second World War by a poll of more than 100 academics.
The former Minister, who was beaten by David Cameron at the May election, only placed ahead of Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Sir Athony Eden, who led Britain into the Suez invasion.
It found Clement Attlee, the Labour leader who established the National Health Service, was the most successful prime minister since 1945, with a rating of 8.1 out of 10.
The poll, compiled by Prof Kevin Theakston, from the University of Leeds, found that Mr Brown was considered the third worst over the past 65 years.
Mr Brown, who was Prime Minister for less than there years, scored just 3.9 out of ten by the 106 academics specialising in politics or history.
Both Margaret Thatcher (6.9) and Tony Blair (6.4) were also highly rated.
The accumulation of record government debt was seen as Mr Brown's biggest failure while he was also criticised for not calling a general election in 2007.
He scored negative ratings for the economy, society, democracy and foreign policy.
Mr Blair was found to be a major benefit to society and the constitution.
Lady Thatcher was the only PM with an overall positive score on Britain's role in the world/foreign policy.
“Each of the top five PMs served at least six years in Downing Street,” Prof Theakston said.
“In the bottom half of the league table only Major had two terms in office, serving for 7 years....
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The former Minister, who was beaten by David Cameron at the May election, only placed ahead of Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Sir Athony Eden, who led Britain into the Suez invasion.
It found Clement Attlee, the Labour leader who established the National Health Service, was the most successful prime minister since 1945, with a rating of 8.1 out of 10.
The poll, compiled by Prof Kevin Theakston, from the University of Leeds, found that Mr Brown was considered the third worst over the past 65 years.
Mr Brown, who was Prime Minister for less than there years, scored just 3.9 out of ten by the 106 academics specialising in politics or history.
Both Margaret Thatcher (6.9) and Tony Blair (6.4) were also highly rated.
The accumulation of record government debt was seen as Mr Brown's biggest failure while he was also criticised for not calling a general election in 2007.
He scored negative ratings for the economy, society, democracy and foreign policy.
Mr Blair was found to be a major benefit to society and the constitution.
Lady Thatcher was the only PM with an overall positive score on Britain's role in the world/foreign policy.
“Each of the top five PMs served at least six years in Downing Street,” Prof Theakston said.
“In the bottom half of the league table only Major had two terms in office, serving for 7 years....