When the Labour Party came to power in 1997 Gordon Brown was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ten years later, in June 2007, he became Prime Minister and held office until May 2010. Educated at the University of Edinburgh, Brown was elected Rector of the University and appointed Chairman of its Court from 1972-5. He then lectured in politics before taking up a post at Scottish Television in 1980. Since 1983 Brown has been the Member of Parliament for Dunfermline East and has held several senior posts on the opposition front bench. This portrait is typical of Antoniou’s bold and striking photographic style. The viewer is confronted, in very close proximity to the politician who bears a slight, almost knowing, smirk. The dramatic lighting contrasts to this intimacy.