Monday, 24th September 2007

Brown fails to inspire

Fraser Nelson 4:20pm

Was that it? Gordon Brown’s speech was no launch-pad for an election or anything else. It was competent and workmanlike but its shopping list of initiatives recalled his duller budgets. The NHS saved his sight, he says. Maybe so, but biographies of Brown tell how frustrated he was with years of duff advice from the NHS while he feared he would go blind - before an (Asian immigrant) consultant managed to help him.

The rather muted ovation reminded us that the audience had grown used to Blair style oratory, which they won't hear for a while now. Anyway, I can now understand why cabinet members were told to keep their speeches unsparky, and limited to seven minutes. It would be very, very easy to outshine that.

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Napoleon

September 24th, 2007 4:36pm Report this comment

"My immediate reaction is that it was a strong speech and one that sets him up very nicely if he does want to go this autumn; he really is a gourmand in his appetite for political territory." this is what you said in the last post..." It would be very, very easy to outshine that"...why did you change your mind so quickly?

James Forsyth

September 24th, 2007 4:42pm Report this comment

Napoleon, slight technical muddle this post is by Fraser not me.

Robin

September 24th, 2007 4:49pm Report this comment

That was like being savaged by a dead sheep. All this holier than thou stuff is irritating. Blessed Gordon whose sight was saved for the good of the many and not the few. How does the Labour party claim association with the reaction to BSE, terrorism, financial failures, the murder of children on our streets? The reaction is from people who want to get on with their lives nothing to do with the Labour party. This vicarious politics turns most peoples' stomachs. It's outrageous heart tugging posturing and absolutely nothing new was offered. if he seriously thinks he can run a six week election campaign with a daily message that his moral compass is still working and pointing him in the direction of more and more everyday platitudes then good luck to him; call an election.