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Kenneth Clarke forgets PM's name Kenneth Clarke fumbles PM's name
(about 4 hours later)
It is said the only thing worse than bad publicity, is no publicity at all. If that is true, then what does it mean if people forget your name altogether? Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke suffered a slip of the tongue during an appearance on a radio programme.
That is what happened to an embattled Prime Minister Gordon Brown when Ken Clarke referred to him as "George Brown" on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions. He momentarily forgot the name of the Prime Minister referring to him as "George Brown" on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions.
When the gaffe was met with laughter, he corrected himself but said George Brown would do "a much better job." When the gaffe was met with laughter, he quickly corrected himself but insisted George Brown would do "a much better job".
The shadow business secretary joked the mistake was as a result of his age.The shadow business secretary joked the mistake was as a result of his age.
Responding to Schools Secretary Ed Balls, Mr Clarke said: "To listen to Ed going on about how we're threatened with cuts in public expenditure if we let go of Mister George Brown, who has been conducting the finances of this - Gordon Brown, yes - George Brown.Responding to Schools Secretary Ed Balls, Mr Clarke said: "To listen to Ed going on about how we're threatened with cuts in public expenditure if we let go of Mister George Brown, who has been conducting the finances of this - Gordon Brown, yes - George Brown.
"I'm revealing my age. George Brown would have made a much better job.""I'm revealing my age. George Brown would have made a much better job."
It is not the first time a senior politician has apparently forgotten exactly who Mr Brown is. It is not the first time a senior politician has apparently forgotten Mr Brown's role.
In 2004, Harriet Harman, currently deputy leader of the Labour Party, made the headlines when she mistakenly elevated the then chancellor, Gordon Brown, to the office of prime minister, during an edition of Question Time.In 2004, Harriet Harman, currently deputy leader of the Labour Party, made the headlines when she mistakenly elevated the then chancellor, Gordon Brown, to the office of prime minister, during an edition of Question Time.