Watch him run! Gordon Brown is desperately trying to play catch-up with Cameron this morning, with an article on expenses in the News of the World. Is it disingenuous? You betcha. So I’ve done a little fisk:
I will do all that’s needed to fix mess
By PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN, 17/05/2009
I AM appalled and angered by this week’s revelations.
Appalled because at all times people should expect the highest standards from people in public life.PH: Shocked and appalled; when one emotion just won’t cut it.
Angered because I was brought up to believe you did the right thing – and that trust, integrity and honesty are the most precious assets of all.
And for all those striving hard in these difficult times to do the best for their families, working long hours to give a better life for their children and to improve our public services and communities I apologise – on behalf of all parties – that the political system has let you and the public down.PH: Is that the same “trust, integrity and honesty” which cultivated a brutal smear operation in the heart of government? The same trust, integrity and honesty which worked against Tony Blair for a decade, blocking many of the former PM’s reform proposals in the process? The same trust integrity and honesty which weaves lies and exaggerations around every statistic there is? I could go on…
PH: Erm, the political system has “let down” those looking to “improve our public services and communities”? I think the “roadblock to reform” is ‘fessing up to more than he means to here.

Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in