How did the 2008 global financial crisis affect Britain under Gordon Brown?

The 2008 global financial crisis and the subsequent recession severely tested the government of Gordon Brown, hitting Britain hard. The crisis led to a government bailout for several prominent British banks, and the Financial Services Authority faced widespread criticism for its handling of the situation.123

The economic downturn, coupled with a political scandal involving the abuse of parliamentary expense accounts, caused the popularity of the Labour Party to plummet. As unemployment grew, Brown’s efforts to stimulate the economy resulted in an ever-increasing budget deficit, which further weighed on his poll ratings. These economic pressures, alongside poor performances in local and European Parliament elections, visibly weakened Brown’s authority and contributed to the political instability that characterized the remainder of his time as prime minister.12