Prime Ministers (21st Century), Part 1

2007-10 : Gordon Brown, 2010- David Cameron

After ten years of being Prime Minister, the longest time of any Labour-PM (and the first time that Labour won three general elections in a row), Tony Blair retired on 27th June 2007. His successor was the one who helped Blair becoming PM in the first place, his long-time political companion Gordon Brown (* 1951). A Scotsman like Blair, they were both potential successors of Labour's party leader John Smith after his sudden death in 1994. But, according to general belief, it was then that Blair and Brown made a promise to each other, after which Brown wanted to help Blair in becoming party leader and Prime Minister, and Blair wanted to give Brown the most important post in his government and retire after some years. Despite some bumpy years, both fulfilled their promise. In 1997, when Blair became PM, Brown was given the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer, which he very effectively held until 2007 (the longest time since Nicholas Vansittart almost 200 years earlier). Even in stormy days, especially after Great Britain was drawn into the war against the Iraq, Brown defended Blair. Time has to show if the less popular and charismatic Brown will be as successful as PM as he was as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I added a more recent signature on the left. As you can see, compared to the other example (2001, on the right), his signature is hardly more than a scribble these days

In 2010, after only three years in charge, Gordon Brown had to face the next general elections. It appeared that the growing national deficit, lack of success in the Iraq  and some scandals didn't endear Brown or his party to voters. On 6 May, the Conservatives missed the absolute majority, but, after coalition-negotiations with the Liberal-Democrats failed and Brown resigning, the Queen asked party leader David Cameron (* 1966) on 11th May to form the next government. The Conservatives now head the government with Lib-Dems. Party Leader since 2005, David Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister since the younger William Pitt in 1784. By King William IV and his mistress Mrs. Jordan, he is even related to the Royals. As an illegitimate descendant, he is not in the line of succession to the throne, however. Cameron's wife Samantha, by the way, is related to King Charles II.  
David Cameron used to be a good signer from the days since he entered parliament in 2001. After 2005, when he had become leader of the Conservatives, he rarely sent out genuine signatures anymore, mostly preprints. On the right, you can see a signed photo from earlier days, maybe around 2004.

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