The Wrong Man

Voters believe that Brown spins and steals (policies)

An ICM poll for Newsnight's new politics page finds that the public believe that Gordon Brown is as much of a spin merchant as Tony Blair and has stolen Conservative ideas on tax.

61% said that Gordon Brown was "no different" from Tony Blair in terms of political spinning.  15% actually thought that he was more likely to spin.

57% agreed that Gordon Brown had "pinched Conservative ideas on tax" and including them in Labour's spending review.

Shadow cabinet minister Chris Grayling has also uncovered doctoring of Gordon Brown's monthly press conference.  Many readers might find some of the 'doctorings' insignificant but a transcript should be a faithful transcript.  If minor edits are permitted, bigger edits will be next.

MIDDLE EAST
What Mr Brown said:
"And the Iraqis have got to get a message, as I will give them today at the House of Commons, that they must not intervene in Iraq in a way that is breeding further violence . . .  and the Iraqis must hear the message..."

What the official transcript says:
"And the Iranians have got to get a message, as I will give them today at the House of Commons, that they must not intervene in Iraq in a way that is breeding further violence . . .  and the Iranians must hear the message..."

TORY TAX PLANS
What Mr Brown actually said:
" ... if we were to go back to that idea that we had in the early nineties where you make tax promises, have no way of sensibly or realistically affording them, then that not only means that you cannot meet your promises, it causes economic stability and it was exactly the problem that was caused in the early 1990s..."

What the official transcript says:
" ... if we were to go back to that idea that we had in the early nineties where you make tax promises, have no way of sensibly or realistically affording them, then that not only means that you cannot meet your promises, it causes economic instability and it was exactly the problem that was caused in the early 1990s ..."

THE NON-ELECTION
What Brown said:
When asked if if he was a "Fife featie" (Scots slang for a coward), Mr Brown replied:  "Not at all! You know in this debate about strength and weakness and about fear and determination, I think let the people judge..."

What the official transcript says:
The exclamation "Not at all" is not recorded.

EU TREATY
What Mr Brown said:
"...people believe the change is so fundamental as a result of this amended treaty that there should be a referendum. Now that is where the issue lies..."

What the official transcript says:
"...people believe the change is so fundamental as a result of this amending treaty that there should be a referendum. Now that is where the issue lies..."

Our 'election is off' graphic

ConservativeHome used this graphic when, on Saturday, it broke the news that the autumn election was off.

Video: Gordon Brown greets Tony Blair's resignation

The scheming Gordon Brown is very, very, very political

Bruce Anderson is the latest commentator to reflect on what last week's Thatcher-Brown meeting tells us about the new Prime Minister:

"There would have been no problem in inviting the old Lady to No 10: only in persuading her to leave."

A great line!  Anderson continues:

"But what do we suppose happened after her regretful departure from the house that she still often thinks of as home? Did Mr Brown turn to his advisers and say: "What a humbling privilege, to be in the presence of such greatness. We shall not see her like again?" Did he hell. I am informed that it would have needed Alastair Campbell's pen to chronicle the post-Thatcher celebrations, for only he could have done justice to the cynicism and the ruthlessness. The corridors of power resounded to back slapping, glee and mutual congratulations. They were delighted that the old bag – one of the politer terms employed – had fallen for it. She had helped them to stuff Cameron. The task was to keep him stuffed."

Mr Anderson compares Mr Brown to the kind of doorstep fraudster who tricks elderly people out of their savings:

"His invitation was not a magnanimous gesture. It was a mean-minded stunt. He was not expressing his admiration for Lady Thatcher, but his contempt. He was behaving like a spivvy antique dealer who oils his way into some old dear's house and dupes her into selling a lifetime's treasures for a fraction of their worth."

But it's at the end of his article that we get to the really important insight into Mr Brown.  Gordon Brown portrays himself as a sobre, serious-minded statesman.  In reality he is intensely political.  He's an arch-schemer - just ask Tony Blair who had to put up with his Chancellor's disloyal plotting for a decade.  ConservativeHome columnist Peter Franklin recently described him as "Dark Brown".  There may be a banking crisis, Foot and Mouth outbreaks and a humiliating retreat from Basra but Gordon Brown's thoughts are reliably political:

"In 10 Downing Street today, they will pay some attention to the banking crisis. As always, there will be half an eye on the latest news from Iraq and Afghanistan. Other matters might receive a hearing. But we know what their main preoccupation will be. While preparing for the Labour Conference, they will also be thinking hard about how to disrupt the Tory one. They will be trying to devise some Thatcher-type trap to spring just when David Cameron gets up to speak."