Gordon Brown’s team decided that they would take the Prime Minister off the airwaves over the summer. The thinking was that when Brown did return in September to roll out his economic plan the public would pay renewed attention. So, apart from an appearance at the Edinburgh books festival, Brown has kept pretty quiet.
What the Brown team did not factor in or adjust for was an international crisis that would require the Prime Minister to play the part expected of a British Prime Minister on the world stage. So, Brown has ended up following not leading on the Georgia crisis both at home and abroad.
Internationally, this has undercut Britain’s standing in the world—the only other permanent member of the Security Council who has been as quiet as Britain has been China which wants nothing to distract from the Olympics. Domestically, it has created a political opportunity for David Cameron that he has seized with both hands. The footage of Cameron meeting Georgian leaders that we will see on the news this evening will further the impression that he is the Prime Minister in waiting.
It is worth pointing out that these criticisms are not just being made by those of us for whom foreign policy has always been the most important issue. The Sun’s leader column savages the Prime Minister for his inaction during the crisis, writing that:
Gordon Brown has a reputation for dithering. He has added to it this week. And by doing so he has made David Cameron look like a credible leader.
Brown’s political position is dire but the power of his office means that he still has certain opportunities to be a national leader. Over the past ten days, he has comprehensively missed this opportunity.
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