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| PM downplays 'saving world' gaffe | PM downplays 'saving world' gaffe |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has attempted to play down a slip of the tongue in which he said the government had "saved the world". | Gordon Brown has attempted to play down a slip of the tongue in which he said the government had "saved the world". |
| The gaffe, during House of Commons exchanges over the economy, provoked howls of laughter on the Tory benches. | The gaffe, during House of Commons exchanges over the economy, provoked howls of laughter on the Tory benches. |
| Mr Brown had meant to say ministers had "saved the banks and led the world" on tackling the downturn. | Mr Brown had meant to say ministers had "saved the banks and led the world" on tackling the downturn. |
| His spokesman later gave the more usual government line that the PM had been "reflecting on helping hardworking families through the downturn". | His spokesman later gave the more usual government line that the PM had been "reflecting on helping hardworking families through the downturn". |
| Gordon Brown claims to be saving the world | Gordon Brown claims to be saving the world |
| Mr Brown's verbal faux pas, uttered during prime minister's questions, came in response to criticism of his handling of the banking crisis. | Mr Brown's verbal faux pas, uttered during prime minister's questions, came in response to criticism of his handling of the banking crisis. |
| To uproar from the opposition benches, he said "we not only saved the world, er, saved the banks and led the way..." before being drowned out by laughter. | To uproar from the opposition benches, he said "we not only saved the world, er, saved the banks and led the way..." before being drowned out by laughter. |
| The Speaker repeatedly had to shout "Order", as Tory MPs waved their papers, punched the air and jeered. | The Speaker repeatedly had to shout "Order", as Tory MPs waved their papers, punched the air and jeered. |
| After the mood in the chamber calmed down, Mr Brown said: "The opposition may not like the fact that we led the world in saving the banking system, but we did." | After the mood in the chamber calmed down, Mr Brown said: "The opposition may not like the fact that we led the world in saving the banking system, but we did." |
| As the prime minister sat down, a biblically minded MP mockingly shouted: "Moses." | As the prime minister sat down, a biblically minded MP mockingly shouted: "Moses." |
| 'Forgotten about businesses' | 'Forgotten about businesses' |
| Tory leader David Cameron then got up to speak, saying: "Well, it's on now the record. | Tory leader David Cameron then got up to speak, saying: "Well, it's on now the record. |
| "He's so busy talking about saving the world, he's forgotten about the businesses in the country that he's supposed to be governing." | "He's so busy talking about saving the world, he's forgotten about the businesses in the country that he's supposed to be governing." |
| The prime minister, whose gaffe is already an internet hit, managed a smile. | The prime minister, whose gaffe is already an internet hit, managed a smile. |
| The mistake comes at a time when Mr Brown is travelling to summit after summit in an effort to persuade fellow world leaders that his "fiscal stimulus" policies should be repeated. | The mistake comes at a time when Mr Brown is travelling to summit after summit in an effort to persuade fellow world leaders that his "fiscal stimulus" policies should be repeated. |
| Some detractors have jokingly compared him to the fantasy film hero - and partial namesake - Flash Gordon, who rescued earth from attack by Martians. | Some detractors have jokingly compared him to the fantasy film hero - and partial namesake - Flash Gordon, who rescued earth from attack by Martians. |
| That followed the marketing push from the early days of his premiership when he was promoted under the slogan Not Flash, Just Gordon. | |
| Asked at a government briefing later whether Mr Brown had meant to say, his spokesman said: "The prime minister has been reflecting on helping hardworking families through the downturn." | Asked at a government briefing later whether Mr Brown had meant to say, his spokesman said: "The prime minister has been reflecting on helping hardworking families through the downturn." |