NOT Gordon Brown
After Gordon Brown comes "NOT Gordon Brown". The man who's occupied Number 11 for the past decade is engaged in a systematic effort to prove that he'll be different - not just from Tony Blair, but from his old self. Just watch today's ´óÏó´«Ã½ interview with him (which you can do by clicking here) and you'll see what I mean.
Confronted by suggestions that he's difficult to work with, Mr Brown said that he'd learnt and as prime minister would reach out and build consensus.
Asked about Treasury spin, he admitted - for the first time - that taxes HAD gone up.
Asked about the alleged problem of being a Scottish MP running Britain post-devolution, he pledged to be sensitive to the 85% of the population which is English.
For those of us who've been asking him questions for the past decade there's a noticeable change in style too - softer, shorter answers - that's right, answers to questions.
Gordon Brown knows that he has one brief opportunity and one alone to change people's impressions of him and the government he's about to lead. The past few days have shown he'll do anything he can to do just that.
PS: Mary Ann Sieghart made this very point in The Times today about Gordon Brown's behaviour. You can read her article .
I'm 
Comments
Quite a disappointing interview. On the contrary, I thought Brown to be very evasive on a number of occasions, with little probing by the interviewers when this occurred. Paxman was needed. I also felt it quite a waste of time for John Simpson being there, with Brown's answers to Simpson containing nothing more than fudge and more fudge.
Sorry Nick, seemed like the same old Brown to me.
The most asked question along with taxation was the West Lothian Question. I am sorry to say, in Martha Carney cutting you short, we failed to get any answers on this issue other than the in Brown's dismissal of English votes for English laws, more rule by the Scottish Raj.
This is a major constitutional issue, and making English people very angry in the discrimination of the availability of public services, let alone having to endure Scottish MP's, who are not accountable to English people seeking to meddle in our issues.
When is the ´óÏó´«Ã½ going to give this issue the debating time it deserves?
sorry nick have to disagree with you. Brown avoided answering all the important issues
still, Brown becomming PM is good news for english independence, soon the shackles will be released and england will be free once more
The past few days have done more to show what other people are like than Gordon Brown. It's quite interesting seeing what people want and how they view situations. In most cases, I think, they're expecting too much or not paying attention. Some people may think him arrogant and evasive. In reality, I'm pretty sure he's straight and considerate. As long as he delivers and takes time to show he gives a damn, he should do fine.
I really do think the historical comparison with Ieyasu Tokugawa is a good metaphor for the man and the country. Gordon is a strategic thinker in an age of change, running a feudal country with war and trade difficulties lapping at the shores. Good Gordon and bad Gordon are balancing on the edge, like the phoenix rising from the fire - life, death, and the cycle of rebirth. A novel and dramatic metaphor, perhaps, but a handy shorthand.
Steve Jobs is a similar type. He demands quality and loyalty, surrounds himself with the best of the best, and is prepared to invest what is necessary. I share a similar personality type and, I can assure you., it's a pain in the ass to carry around. And that's why I can say with near certainty that Gordon Brown is sincere about proper order, balance, long-term thinking, and getting people on board. It's the way we're built.
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not? Sounds about right.
I have not had a chance to read the whole transcript yet but a few points.
Readers might note the the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is between a rock and a hard place here.
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ was cowed into submission and heads literally rolled over the 'Gilligan' affair, therefore it is not unreasonable to assume that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will now be rather circumspect when dealing with politicians who control the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s funding.
If we also try to put aside the recently admitted 'institutional' bias, then issues such as the West Lothian question, an issue which has become critical for the English, is something a BRITISH Broadcasting Company is going to be very uncomfortable in discussiing.
Just think about it, taken to its logical conclusion, with England, Scotland, Wales and NI as separate countries, then where exactly does that leave the ´óÏó´«Ã½?
Like the political entity known as 'Britain', the ´óÏó´«Ã½ itself faces 'devolution'.
The usual obfuscation from Brown and nobody with the brutal determination of Paxman to challenge him. A pathetic effort Nick. We demand answers to vital issues such as the pension theft and votes for English people on English laws. Move over and let a real interviewer at him.
I think the interview was poorly structured - with you guys not able to respond to his answers enough. Moving on meant you couldn't press him. Yes it was good when he admitted taxes have gone up, but otherwise I don't think there was much special in this interview.
I posted my comments on the editors blog a few minutes ago .We have Brown the "Obfuscator" with the added bonus of him confirming that there are few if any MP's fir to serve in HM's Govnmnt,first Paddy Ashdown then Lord Stephens,who next.
EVAN DAVIS for Chancellor ?????
Poor performance, Nick. I agree with Matt who commented first. It needed a Paxman job - Brown obfuscated and wasn't exposed for doing so. You should have pressed him harder about Iraq - not for any other reason but you had a valid question (and pressed him a second time about apologies) and he didn't answer it.
I am afraid that I was none the wiser about Brown after that interview and I can only blame the interviewers. Another time find a topic and stick to it. It is too easy for politicians to give vague answers if you give them too many subjects to answer on.
Nick, when trying to justify the illegal attack on Iraq, Brown said we must keep on good terms with the American president.
I would have liked one of you to ask, when we get a president such as George Bush who is so obviously myopic and simplistic in his views, why on earth should we be on good terms with him? Especially since our support has lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.
Glad you asked the question that bothers me, an apology for Iraq. It is more than just saying sorry for dodgy intelligence. Blair said he had "no doubts" about the intelligence. The Butler inquiry revealed plenty of doubts, but he was so convinced he was right that he spun the facts to pull the gullible labour party along. Was Brown taken in? Did he have doubts about the intelligence? Was he apologising for the spin or the intelligence? You asked him but I'm afraid we still do not know because he wasn't pressed for an answer...
Good try anyway...
Mr Brown was not convincing. His answers being well rehearsed. When he was cornered he just said 'I don't accept that' The panel should have pressed harder re 'middle England' stealth taxes, e.g. Pension, Council & inheritance tax. Mr.Brown said was he acknowledged NI contributions had increased to fund the NHS. No mention of the crippling & unfair tax load on people who have scrimped and saved all their lives to provide for themselves. Even if Mr. brown does 'change' he will not want to lose the votes of all those getting state aid. Clearly there are many disadvantaged people who must,repeat must be helped but there are far too many spongers being supported by those who are grossly and unfairly over taxed.
Devolution
Nick, thanks for trying, I'm just trying to work out what Mr Broon MP for Kircaldy and Cowdenbeath means. He has rejected English votes, but will be sensitive to the views of 85% of the population. The question is how is he going to address the issue. My feeling is that if Scotland can afford all the extras that they are currently being handed out to their electors they are patently being given too large a budget. The concept of the Barnet formula was to address the issue of a country that needed more money than England. The evidence is that this clearly is no longer the case.
Let us not forget: Gordon Brown is a politician not Mother Teresa. I am certainly not expecting a sea change in Britain when he takes up the Premiership.
As George Galloway says, GB and TB are just two cheeks of the same backside! Nothing will be any different.
I tried hard to see a change but he did not come through as any different. Even the interviewers had to stop him from launching into the old "spin / regurgitate the old line" approach. He is too old to learn new tricks and in as much as he appears to be changing, that is merely a measure of a more subtle spin. We need new blood in our politics.
I understand that Blair has ruined the elitist agenda that the people who selected him put him in power to implement. He has lost the support of the nation, so that agenda is in peril, so Brown has to put up a different 'front' to get that agenda back on track. I also understand that as the mouthpiece for the 'establishment' the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has to help promote that agenda by helping promote a more acceptable image of Brown, but it really will not wash.
So long as a political leader pushes an agenda of an expanding EU, more globalisation, and every stepping stone to a "new world order" or "unipolar world order", then they get a favourable press. When they turn against that agenda, (like Thatcher did late in her premiership), or if they become a liability through their own ineptitude (like Blair) then they lose the support of the media and are replaced.
Name one British political leader, in the last 40 years, who was more Eurosceptic OR had a greater desire to move away from a unipolar world order, than the discredited leader they replaced? Why is the more expansionist leader be popular? they are given the more favourable press, every time.
This is the same duplicitous Brown we have come to know and dislike for 10 years. The only change, perhaps, is that he has become more blatant in his lies as he knows he will not be called out on any of them by a supine media that's pushing the same NWO agenda.
That is why the media is despearately trying to push a false idea that he genuinely has changed, no really, this time he really really has, honest. Would we lie to you? OK forget the WMD in Iraq thing, this time we mean it.
The media's desparation is palpable.
Like a freshly beaten wife on the morning after listening to an abusive alcoholic husband declaring this time he really has changed, I do not believe a word of it.
And shame on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ for pushing this rubbish.
Instead of pandering to his blatant lies about being closer to the people, giving Parliament a greater say, listening more and being more open etc etc, perhaps you might try, for once, to hold him to account for his words and his actions being 180 degrees different. The restrictions on the freedom of information act, the referendum on the just signed EU treaty would be 2 very good places to be holding his feet to the fire over for a start.
I won't hold my breath however.
My previous comment obviously did not fit your world view Nick but I'm not put off as I expect nothing else from the ´óÏó´«Ã½.
Why didn't you press him on the devolution issues so strongly put forward in the "Ask Gordon Brown" have your say?
One feeble question, not properly answered.
Shame on you, shame on the ´óÏó´«Ã½.
One way or another we will be heard.
So he has learned, will reach out, build consensus and answer questions at last.
But if the answers to such questions are, and allowed to be (especially in the case of what is surely easily established fact) 'I don't accept that', I'm afraid to all of the above I can only have one reply:
"I don't accept that".
But, as always in this newsflip era, that's probably all there is time for. Shame. On all involved, and complicit.
J D Asher, I suppose we should be grateful Nick Robinson put one or two questions regarding the West Lothian Question, for up till now the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has assiduously avoided asking any questions regarding this matter, its almost as if they are trying to make Gordon Brown's run up to his coronation trouble free.
To come to Nick Robinson's defence a little more, it should also be noted it was Martha Carney who cut short his line of questioning on the WLQ, suggesting people we more interested in the line of questions she began. This wasn't correct, if you take a look at the questions people put up as of interest to them on the 'Have your say' message board the two most requested questions were on tax and pensions, and equal billing the WLQ. As we saw, the latter, the WLQ, only got a cursory mention in the interview, perhaps suggesting the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has some institutional issues where English issues are concerned.
Do you seriously think he actually answered the questions, Nick? Maybe one or two, but my impression from watching the interview is that he did what politicians always do when asked a question they don't like: answer a completely different question.
If you really think he answered the questions, I guess that's a reflection of how low your expectations were, that you were happy when he did actually answer some questions (albeit only a minority of those put to him). A very sad comment on the state of British politics today.
If GB had wanted to convince me that we are in for a new era of more honest politics, he has just seriously blown his chance. Looks like all the same old lies to me.
Good old Gordon,
Talking and listening to the people, building a consensus, a new era of openess and honesty blah, blah, blah. What a load of old tosh. Gordon, the deep thinker has an armourey of 102 cliches and in ten years working alongside Teflon Tony has learnt that by perming any five cliches it is possible to answer any question thrown at him. He probably left the studio feeling very pleased with this performance but fools only himself. The country is crying out for some half decent opposition to sweep this man back over Hadrian's Wall where he belongs. Once there, he can at least take comfort from the fact he will enjoy free nursing care in his old age whilst his kids go to university at our expense.
Your "for those of us who have been asking him questions for the past decade" comment: Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian a month ago hinted that filmmaker Alan Parker on speaking more slowly, addressing his audience rather than the lectern, being relaxed, etc. It's an image change, not substance.
I kept waiting for a stoppage of play, and then the officials could have held up a board with his jersey number, and one of you could have trotted off muttering, and Paxman could have jogged on.
I tuned in and I could not stop cringing. Even faced with direct questions he employed crude swerve tactics to talk about "I".
And, another point Gord, when it switches to camera two it doesn't mean you can drop the fake smile and hope the electorate won't notice.
Alex Salmond will use his position as Scotland's first minister to forment disquiet south of the border. It is already clear that in his short period of office he is doing very well indeed. The anger amongst the English evident in this blog is not going to go away and will only grow as they see more and more evidence of the taxes raised in England being used not to help improve the way of life fairly across the UK, but to feather-bed those north of the border whilst life becomes harder and harder south of it. Even a cursory glance at these pages should tell his advisors that (and I can't believe they don't look).
If Gordon Brown tries to avoid this issue by saying he will be "sensitive" to English concerns, then he is more of a fool than I thought. Only a fair revision of the devolution arangements, which gives equal funding to all home nations, and the removal of rights currently afforded to MP's (like him) from north of the border to vote on English matters which have been devolved to Hollyrood for Scotland will defuse what is quickly going to become the most damaging question of his premiership. Devolution will be as poisonous for him as Europe was for John Major unless he acts quickly and fairly. Some of us saw this coming, but at least he can't say he hasn't been warned.
It might be a vain hope, but I think it is high time for somebody in the media to 'blow the whistle' and tell us English folk what really goes on at these interviews.
For instance, what are the 'pre-conditions'?
For example, what lines of questioning are off-limits?
Is the interviewee insisting on choosing the interviewer(s)?
Does the interviewee insist upon overall edit control?
What is the context of the actual interview, that is, are the interviewee 'minders' and/or relatives out-of-camera sight, but glowering at the interviewer(s)?
Unless the viewer is clear about all these things at the outset of the interview, then a false picture may emerge, especially when slippery customers such as politicians are concerned.
THERE IS ONE GOOD THING THAT WILL COME FROM G BROWN BEING PM. DAVID HAS NOW NO PROBLEM BECOMING THE NEXT PM. THAT HAS TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE.
Let Paxman loose on Brown - then we'll see.
So as i wipe the tears of mirth from my eyes I think Gordon Brown will suit - as Bernard Manning's replacement.
He looked like he really liked the departing PM and they would miss each other dreadfully. Mr Blair didn't do so well. After a decade of seemingly sulking Mr Brown bounds forwards and asks us all to consider ourselves included in his "new" New Labour Britain. Boy that is something I will pass on thanks.
Fair treatment for everyone no matter who. Forgive me, Mr Brown - no matter who? Let us start with Harriet Harman shall we?
Fair treatment for some has been delayed on a very ad hoc basis up to date. No wonder I had to loosen my stays after that particular belly laugh.
No, Mr Brown will do just fine as the next comedian occupying 10 Downing Street. I like the way he tells them stories.
This is the same Brown who:
Destroyed Pensions
Raised Taxes through stealth
Supported the Iraq war on dodgy evidence
Allowed billions to be wasted in inefficient pubic services
Deprived local authorities of funds so that Council Tax has gone up by 90%
Is so addicetd to spin that he tried to portray his last budget as a tax cutting one until the press caught him out (One point at least to the Freal Media)
Sorry Nick, but I think you just gave him an easy ride!
It will be difficult to determine what Gordon Brown is like.
He will now be subjected to the same character assassination by media that we have seen applied to Tony Blair.
Look out for the misinformation, the snide remarks, the faint praise and qualifications when there has been success, and above all for the accusations of "spin".
Every picture tells a story.
The Labour Leader needs to say more than just a prayer if he's going to win the next election.
Perhaps we'll find out how much he has changed when he announces the new Cabinet. One thing is for sure, Peter Hain must now be pleased that the Deputy Leader role doesn't include that of Deputy Prime Minister. One consolation for him at least until he discovers what fate has in store for him in terms of a Cabinet post - surely most Cabinet positions are better than party chairman, no offence Harriet!
Interesting reading Brown and Harman on the web. Interesting that Brown thinks a 1980's London MP is going to appeal to the country at large unless Brown really thinks we need more social workers.
Both have got T&G connections and both clearly think Jack Jones is the way forward.
Could be some problems here.
It is relatively easy answering questions when you are on your guard and have time to prepare and can remnd yourself of the correct style of presentation. It will be more interesting at PMQs when questions will be asked when soundbite answers will be seized upon for what they are.
Churchill was regarded (rightly) as a great orator but he himself admits that he could not make a speech without long hours of preparation beforehand.
One of my neighbours, extremely angry with what is happening in England, said to me: you know, the Scots have now their own Parliament and we the English are now ruled by a government mainly formed by Scots. And he went on to say: you know, according to our political establishment, Welsh nationalism is acceptable, Scottish nationalism is acceptable, but English nationalism is illegal. Many people in this country, perhaps too many, feel alienated, abandoned, and unrepresented.
Nick, Gordon Brown is currently on a charm offensive to gloss over his clear meglomania. In the last week the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has given his move to PM unpredeneted coverage without ever really being very taxing. Newsnight was a sham. And last night's 'interview' on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ news was a case in point, a platform for Gordon to amusingly present himself as a Man of the People. Not a man desperate for power. Reference to his intellect and past sporting prowess were particulalry gushing and frankly quite jaw dropping in tone. As someone who is being squeezed by Mr Brown Man of the Peoples' continued programme of stealth taxation, the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s clear aim to support his move to number 10 across all channels has been particulalry galling. It should concern those who are meant to hold dear its values as a so called unbiased public service broadcasting corporation.
Not one of the interviewers seemed to spot Mr Brown repeating the phrase...'Let's be honest'.. as a prequel to some answers. It was as if they (the interviewers) weren't really listening to his responses.
I just thought it almost hilarious to hear someone who has, for ten years, been part of a Government constantly lieing and being 'dishonest' asking us to 'be honest'!
I did not detect honesty in any of his answers. But what can you expect? He has been brainwashed by the party machine into evasion and vagueness.
Sorry, Nick, but it was very, very tame, and I wished that the interviewers had better scripts.
I went to a political meeting of the fabians last year at which a conservative london M P and a labour london M P a (scots man)gave a talk on flat tax,the labour M P (a scots man)had the cheek to say,(the conservatives think people should pay as little tax as possible and should be allowed to keep as much of thare own money as possible,we think differantly)the sooner brown and his scottish pals are gone the better.I only wish the conservatives had a better leader.
I fail to see why Gordon's Scottish nesss is any issue whatsoever. Where was the barrage of complaints when successive English Tory governments ruled the rest of the UK only based on home counties votes. It should also be noted that the English are overwhelmingly in charge of UK foreign and fiscal policy since a massive majority of MPS are English anyway. I agree however that Scottish MPs shouldn't vote on English issues but where were you all when the other home nations were being dictated to for the last 300 odd years?
"The man who's occupied Number 11 for the past decade"
Is, as we all know, Blair.
Why is it being reported that Brown is moving to No.10?
He isn't. He already lives there.
Brown is a declared Unionist and therefore, he will try to block any attempt by the SNP to gain independence for Scotland.
T L
Gives a whole new meaning to "making a complete balls of it" with the appointment of Ed Balls.!
T L
'"I will try my utmost" - it's hard to be found failing or wanting against that'. This is a neat point NR makes. However, the other side of that coin is to ask is this the comment of a man utterly convinced he will succeed for Queen and Country?
If there's one thing I've learnt about people over the years it is that the leopard never changes his spots. Expect to see the familiar Stalinist, deaf Brown to emerge from the gift wrap sometime very soon!
Lets face it, Tony Blairs management style often dubbed spin has I believe in part led to the very reason he ended up elected 3 times and received a clapping ovationat the end of his role as PM. Gordon, lovable but not a rogue may find that his own forced abstinence of media management"
Lets face it, Tony Blair's management style often dubbed spin has- I believe - in part led to the very reason he ended up elected 3 times and received a clapping ovation at the end of his role as PM, (a management of Gaffes') Gordon, lovable, but relatively not a media darling, may find that his own publicly forced abstinence of "media management" may actually backfire and release thick black oil all over his Premiership in a world ravenous for the media he paradoxically coverts... although one may argue he does have a strong bedrock to overcome any such adversity... its called substance, something thats been lacking in the Conservative Offense ... "are you thinking what I'm thinking?" and that is underpinned by the values of SOCIAL JUSTICE that Govern the core Labour Party values... (hmm. beat that). The Libdems have been utterly weak in any force of nature at this critical stage of Politics, although Cameron oddly scored a point for waving his benches up in the House of Commons to honour the Blair exit, (revealing though it was about his relationship with a fractured aimless party)..If the Ice cold conservatives (nasty horrid elitist selfish discriminating people as viewed in general by the public today) wish to overcome this, (as perhaps they could have if they decided to listen to the Labour polls & elect cuddly eccentric Ken Clark as leader) then they need to engage me (us) with some backbone that guides their philosophy in the same way a theory of science is utterly simple in design and yet describes so much...( Social Justice...wow..) this my friends is the reason why the conservatives are not fit to govern, and why members have started to defect from the conservatives. This is the reason why Labour will win the next General Election, this is the focus the conservatives need (I hope not) to develop... lets hope Cameron continues to dilly dally as Labours' elect continue to decide for themselves which positions are dished out to whom.... When all is said and done... Blairs spin and eye for the camera played a huge role in the success of his term as viewed by not only the UK but the world... the age of Media is upon us go with it.. dont fight it Gordon.
(PS. Great work Nick.. Politics is exciting with you!!)
Paul de Souza