Last night, Prime Minister Gordon Brown opened his heart out to millions of television viewers, but is it going to be too late for his future, with the General Election only a matter of months away. If we believe Sky sources, it could be as early as May 6th. Did it have any effect on his personality with the voters, or was it just a media-management exercise?
Politically, Gordon Brown certainly has his critics, both from inside and outside the political circle. In fact, he barely raises a smile for the cameras, and is often made an easy target when things go wrong within the Labour party. He is an independent man, who loves his job of leading our country and is determined to do the right things that he believes in. Let’s face it, he hasn’t had it easy in the tenure as Prime Minister: A global recession, war conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan and having to overcome numerous party opposition challengers to remain top dog. On ITV’s ‘Piers Morgan’s Life Stories’ last night, many of us got to see Gordon Brown the man, Gordon Brown the normal bloke, rather than the perception to many, Gordon Brown the clueless Scottish Prime Minister.
The way he was talking to Piers, it was clear that he hasn’t had an easy time of it, from the numerous operations required to save the sight in both his eyes, to the day he finally got the keys to No.10 Downing Street. 1994 turned out to be a key year for our country. Labour leader John Smith died from a heart attack, and Brown was many people’s favourite to succeed Smith as leader. However, after a series of discussions, it was decided that Brown would step aside for Tony Blair, a decision that changed the way Labour thought in their desperation to win back the country. Three years later, Blair was swept into office with a landslide vote and Brown had to bite his lip for a whole decade, watching Blair achieve his aims that deep down, he must have thought he could have done too. Last night, he admitted a deal was struck with Blair over the leadership decision in 1994, and admitted that the strain on his friendship with the former Prime Minister was fairly strong. However, he conceded it was the right decision at the time, and that’s something I fully agree with.
The most emotional part of the whole interview was Gordon opening up to the public about the tragic death of his and wife Sarah’s first child, Jennifer. This happened nine years ago and for someone, still clearly affected by the pain of this horrific event, to open up to the British public this sad tale was an act of courage and bravery. Watching it, I really felt sorry for him, nearly being reduced to tears. Some will say it would be for the symphony vote, but I wholeheartedly disagree with that viewpoint. At least he held it together, unlike Alistair Campbell’s shameful attempts at waterworks over the Iraq enquiry last week, when interviewed by Andrew Marr.
Whoever asked Gordon Brown to do this, whether it was Sarah, Peter Mandelson or just his advisors, the interview went across really well and was a very creditable performance. Piers Morgan was the right man for the interview too. Piers is a close friend of the Brown’s, he knows what they have been through and he didn’t make it hard for Gordon to speak – better than Jeremy Paxman, who might be a stronger interviewer face-to-face, but would have ripped the Prime Minister to pieces in the same scenario, with his interrogative question.
The final outcome of the General Election shouldn’t be affected by this, but for me, Gordon Brown has won a few more friends and a load of respect for his dignified and gracious appearance and accounts last night. The leadership debates will be his next big test, to see if he really has a future in running the country. Though maybe we need a change for the better in this country, Gordon Brown is a likeable, nice guy and nothing should be drawn personally against him. It could be worse; you could be a BNP member, supporting the coward that is Nick Griffin! Thumbs up Gordon, you deserve a lot of credit!
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