In short, even Brown knows he’s not what he’s cracked up to be. Making such an admission at this stage of the election cycle is extraordinary. The intention may have been to make Brown look human. In which case, he’s succeeded, but to his detriment. Brown looks Biblically fallible. Labour’s campaign rests on one deduction. Gordon Brown built an era of prosperity; then Gordon Brown saved the country from a recession that originated in America; therefore Gordon Brown is the man to lead the country back to prosperity. The premises and conclusion are conceited enough, but his admission that the recession didn’t originate in America - that his policies contributed to near meltdown – undermines that logic. Labour’s argument now reads: Brown presided over illusory prosperity made possible by lax regulation and vast state spending; then Brown weathered the inevitable recession whilst intensifying his original policy; therefore he’s the man to ensure future prosperity that will depend on the total reversal of Brown’s policies. It is not credible. Filed under: Economy (171 more articles) , Election 2010 (292 more articles) , Gordon Brown (606 more articles) , Labour (842 more articles) , Recession (121 more articles) ,Recovery (80 more articles) , UK politics (1422 more articles)Brown demolishes himself with untimely ‘admission’
Sorry is the hardest word and Gordon Brown stil hasn’t said it. But, everyday brings surprises. His ‘admission’ about his errors is the first time I’ve ever agreed with his economic analysis.How Charlie Whelan killed New Labour
FRASER NELSON 4:15pm
Last summer, The Spectator received a letter from Charlie Whelan's solicitors complaining about this post - where we mention their client's spot of bother with his colleagues at Unite. Carter-Ruck were instructed on one of the no-win-no-fee deals: it cost Whelan nothing to sue, but could cost us £thousands to defend. So the lawyer's letter is, by itself, an effective form of intimidation. A magazine with a small budget obviously faces huge pressure to do what he wanted: apologise, pay up and (suspiciously) undertake not to pursue the story any further. Under the...
DAVID BLACKBURN 6:04pm
Posts
