Subscribe to The Spectator

Friday 10 February 2012

Latest issue

Buy the current issue

Jobs at Telegraph

Monday, 19th May 2008

Even the Prime Minister's jokes are Brownies

Fraser Nelson 9:09pm

Like Matt, I was genuinely impressed by the defrosted Gordon Brown on display at the Google conference. However - and churlish though it may be - I’d like to point out that his Einstein joke (where he swaps places with his chauffeur) is a Brownie. The genesis of this fake and oft-repeated tale is here.

You may think the PM’s claim to have seen a banner saying “worldwide campaign against globalisation” is real because he used it in Jan08, Jul07, Mar07, Jan07 and Nov06 and (first) in a Newsweek article in Sep06. My guess is that he spotted this slogan not in a demo, but in an Apr00 article by William Keegan here. But it’s a good gag, and I applaud the sentiment.

Brown is never dazzling like Blair, but at the end of this I did think he will last those two more years after all.

Blogs: Martin Bright | Susan Hill | Alex Massie | Melanie Phillips | Faith Based | Cappuccino Culture

Actions: Email to a friend  |   Permalink   |   Comments (8) | Subscribe

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Comments Post comment

Water

May 19th, 2008 9:42pm Report this comment

Certainly seems like champagne for the brain.

mckenzie

May 19th, 2008 10:03pm Report this comment

Fraser, I look to you for inspiration and hope, I admire you and see admirable qualities and I am grateful for your refreshing contribution to the maintenance of my sanity: please tell me you are joking and that you don't really think he will survive those two years. Personally he reminded me of John Lennon singing about a wonderful fantasy.

EyeSee

May 19th, 2008 10:18pm Report this comment

Have you heard his one about being a competent Chancellor, that is a rib tickler. All it needs for you to find it hugely amusing, is to be a politician, with your salary and pension secured against the damage this economic terrorist has done to the rest of the country. I'm sure Hitler had his good stories.

chris

May 20th, 2008 1:41am Report this comment

It reminds me of around 99/2000 before the dotcom bust: People would buy everything online and books would become redundent. Business cycles would be changed forever for the better. People where investing in online companies which consisted of a homepage and nohing else! Suits Brown to a tee with his big tent, grand statements.

jdude

May 20th, 2008 1:56am Report this comment

I don't mean to sound rude nor disrespectful but how does this "Mr. Gordon Brown" have a job?

RW

May 20th, 2008 8:07am Report this comment

I'm not sure which Gordon Brown we are now supposed to admire and respect, the "relaxed, confident and witty" one (BTW I don't accept this analysis for a moment, I'm just quoting Matthew's gushing encomium to his hero) or the nasty primitive vindictive class warrior who, so we're told, personally approved the appallingly ill-judged "toff" election campaign in Crewe and Nantwich.

Brown can't have it both ways. Or perhaps he thinks he can, which suggests an alarming state of mind. Are there any more Gordon Browns waiting in the wings?

Perry

May 20th, 2008 9:55am Report this comment

Let’s consider which of these we supposed to admire . . ? I suppose time we tell. Meanwhile I remember Wislon’s endless mantra of ‘ . . . years of Tory mis-rule . . ‘

Now we have years of sorting out the priceless – in the sense of incalculable - heritage of Mz. Prudence of Noo-Lie-Bore : the behemoth of bonkers borrowing.

Carol Ann

May 20th, 2008 5:30pm Report this comment

I don't get all the fuss I thought it was boring, boring, boring! Maybe it's beacuse he was starting from such a low point.

Post comment

Back to top

Cartoons

Tag Cloud

Coffee House archive

sponsored links

Spectator recommends

Spectator classifieds

THE PRESENT FINDER

1,700 Unusual Christmas Presents Request Catalogue 01935 815 195 Quote SPEC10 for 10% discount www.presentfinder.co.uk

OLIVE BRANCH FLORISTS

Pimilco based Florist with online ordering Web: www.olivebranch.net Tel: 020 7630 1868 Fax: 020 7233 8844

RUFFS Bespoke Signet rings

62 Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FT Telephone: 01489 578867 Web site: www.ruffs.co.uk