A return to the nimble, witty Brown of yesteryear
Today's performance by Gordon Brown at Prime Minister's Questions was the best I think I've seen him do in two-and-a-half years as PM.
Thanks perhaps to Alastair Campbell's new regular advice, he came with a string of well ready made put downs of David Cameron.
On the economy he said of Mr Cameron: "His voice is that of the modern PR man; his mindset that of the 1930s!"
And, after a long question from the Tory leader, Mr Brown shot back: "The more he talks, the less he says."
Later: "His Inheritance Tax policy was dreamed up on the playing fields of Eton."
But Mr Brown's wittiest put-down, apparently spontaneous, came when Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg voiced support for US President Barack Obama's speech last night:
"President Obama will be grateful for his endorsement," said Mr Brown.
It was a new Brown, buoyed presumably that the Tory lead in the polls may be narrowing. Or rather it was a return to the nimble witty Gordon Brown of the late 80s and early 90s.
The PM couldn't hide his broad grim - he looked in command of the House, and the water in his eyes showed he was loving every moment."
And Labour MPs loved it too. But their pleasure may be short-lived.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 2nd Dec 2009, barriesingleton wrote:FUNNY HOW WE CAN SEE THINGS SO DIFFERENTLY
Watching closely, I saw a PECULIARLY AGITATED Brown - manic perhaps. I FELT he was no longer James Gordon as we know him. Small wonder, if he is being infused with 'Essence of Campbell'. Campbell beat his Moral Compass into a very nasty scimitar, almost at birth I suspect, and should he ever enter a Manse, the Temple Veil would rend from top to bottom. This is truly an UNHOLY ALLIANCE. Campbell's influence can only bring Mr Hyde to dominance, with Dr Jekyll locked in the psychic cellar of JGB.
Perhaps the new Brown is best described as POSSESSED!
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Comment number 2.
At 2nd Dec 2009, Naomimuse wrote:Expecting the normal bombastic tub thumping Broon, I saw that he has changed.
He is now further from the electorate than he was even last week. His playing to the gallery, well, not to Reese Weatherspoon, whose name he did not even know although he spoke of her, his failure to answer any of the questions at all, make him totally unacceptable to most of us voters.
I just wanted to turn the tv off.
How dare they all behave the way they did when we have a financial crisis which may well be worse than that in the 1930s and all they can do is look like a school playground?!
The PM may have been loving every moment but most of the voters were not and will have just despaired that he will ever understand what he and his mirthful crew have done to us, both now and for the future ripples yet to be identified.
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Comment number 3.
At 2nd Dec 2009, stevie wrote:It was a much better performance by Brown today but it had Alistair written all over it but so what? One of the canniest brains in the political landscape is best doing it in the commons not for some tatty journal. If he can fool us all over WMD's and 45 minute warnings, dodgy dossiers and put them into Tony's mouth and most of the benches go along with it who knows what the outcome of the election might be. It certainly won't be the one horse race we have come to expect. One thing he won't be able to accomplish is to keep Burnley in the premiership....
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Comment number 4.
At 2nd Dec 2009, DebtJuggler wrote:Michael...it's just a case of remission!
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Comment number 5.
At 2nd Dec 2009, barriesingleton wrote:HOW TELLING
I always said that Brown 'wanted to be Tony' (literally) hence the smouldering fidget who sat through PM's Questions with childish ungrace.
Then he got the job and found Tony had made it look easy - he couldn't do it. NOW we see the hated Mandelson and the contemptuous Campbell INSTALLED! It could be a TV show called: MAKE ME CHARISMATIC. Or for the older readers: PERM ME TONY. It is pure CS Lewis. Screwtape has been brought out of retirement and is 'running' Mandelson and Campbell; the prize being Jimmie's soul. Almost there . . .
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Comment number 6.
At 2nd Dec 2009, Nash wrote:You are watching a different PMQs to me.
He still doesn't answer any questions.
He doesn't seem to know that Spain isn't in the G20 and that the UK is the only G20 country in recession.
He implies that anyone with a house worth more than £320K is a billionaire and a friend of david Cameron.
He has reverted to class warfare.
Labour deserve to be thrown out for wanting Gordon Brown to be their leader. Is he really the "best" there is in the Labour Party.
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Comment number 7.
At 2nd Dec 2009, barriesingleton wrote:MR SPEAKER COULD BE A CHARACTER RIGHT OUT OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND (#6)
The Speaker applies a host of petty rules, but during Question Time, NEVER requires that a QUESTION be ANSWERED. Meanwhile, that housefull of honourable ciphers does nothing to change this ludicrous situation, being in utter contempt of us. Honour demands that much of Parliamentary disgrace be challenged, but who among them has the integrity?
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