This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8110443.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brown: recent weeks 'among worst' | Brown: recent weeks 'among worst' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has admitted that the latest crises to engulf his leadership hurt him, and made him think he could "walk away from this tomorrow". | Gordon Brown has admitted that the latest crises to engulf his leadership hurt him, and made him think he could "walk away from this tomorrow". |
| "I'm not interested in what accompanies being in power... and it would probably be good for my children," he told Saturday's Guardian newspaper. | "I'm not interested in what accompanies being in power... and it would probably be good for my children," he told Saturday's Guardian newspaper. |
| But he insisted Labour could win the next election under his leadership. | But he insisted Labour could win the next election under his leadership. |
| In the wake of a failed bid to oust him the prime minister also said he may go into teaching after leaving office. | In the wake of a failed bid to oust him the prime minister also said he may go into teaching after leaving office. |
| Reflecting that the recent weeks have been the worst of his political life, he told the newspaper: "To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow." | Reflecting that the recent weeks have been the worst of his political life, he told the newspaper: "To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow." |
| People know we've made these decisions to try to sort the economy out, but they don't yet see the results Gordon Brown | People know we've made these decisions to try to sort the economy out, but they don't yet see the results Gordon Brown |
| During two interviews he gave the Guardian earlier this month, Mr Brown said he wished he had imposed a tougher regulatory regime on the banking system, but said he "didn't want Britain to be outside the mainstream". | During two interviews he gave the Guardian earlier this month, Mr Brown said he wished he had imposed a tougher regulatory regime on the banking system, but said he "didn't want Britain to be outside the mainstream". |
| He also said he had been under heavy pressure to deregulate further, and acknowledged that he "didn't know a lot about" banks buying up sub-prime mortgages during his period as chancellor. | He also said he had been under heavy pressure to deregulate further, and acknowledged that he "didn't know a lot about" banks buying up sub-prime mortgages during his period as chancellor. |
| But, he added, the global nature of modern banking meant such behaviour would "continue to happen". | But, he added, the global nature of modern banking meant such behaviour would "continue to happen". |
| Election claim | |
| Mr Brown also insisted that Labour could win the next election under his leadership. | Mr Brown also insisted that Labour could win the next election under his leadership. |
| This, he said, was because the action the government had taken on the economy and MPs' expenses would start to bear fruit, and because the Tories had admitted they would cut public spending. | This, he said, was because the action the government had taken on the economy and MPs' expenses would start to bear fruit, and because the Tories had admitted they would cut public spending. |
| He said: "People know we've made these decisions to try to sort the economy out, but they don't yet see the results. Same thing on MPs. You're in that period between the implementation of your policy and the delivery of it." | He said: "People know we've made these decisions to try to sort the economy out, but they don't yet see the results. Same thing on MPs. You're in that period between the implementation of your policy and the delivery of it." |
| Labour MP Tony Wright told the BBC that Mr Brown had faced enormous problems during his time as prime minister. | |
| He added: "He's the prime minister who is having to preside over the worst financial and economic crisis for 60 years, and the worst political crisis in modern times. | |
| "Any prime minister presiding over that is going to take a battering. I would have thought the temptation to walk away would be great, but I've never seen Gordon as a walker-away." |