What a difference a day makes
- 11 May 07, 06:41 PM
Yesterday we saw the master showman. Today we saw his long suffering understudy.
It's lucky that Gordon Brown had decided to highlight his lack of interest in presentation since his launch was marred by the most basic of errors - the cameras couldn't get a clear view of his face.
The contrast though was about much more than style and will matter much more if Gordon brown means what he said today. He has pledged to govern in a different way. Parliament would have more power to hold both the government and erring ministers to account. The public would be given greater say over the services they use. In the new kind of politics which Brown is promising, government would be "humble enough to know its place"
Mr Brown is trying to pull off quite a trick. He is declaring that an old familiar face can lead a completely new style of government. He is arguing not just that Labour can and should change in office but that he can and will change too.
In the days to come we will get a sense of how far that is possible
Is it my imagination or has plain old Gordon Brown just metamorphosed into Brown for Britain, Prime Minister designate? The signs are all there at his campaign launch - he's wearing make up, he's surrounded by young people and applause spontaneously breaks out when he walks into a room. 
