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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brown: recent weeks 'among worst' | Brown: recent weeks 'among worst' |
| (about 5 hours 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. |
| Mr Brown gave his interview to the Guardian after some of his own MPs and ministers attacked his leadership, and in the wake of Labour's poor performance in local and European elections. | |
| Asked if he had ever been though something this bad before, he told the paper: "in my political life, not so much." | |
| He added: "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 also 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". |
| 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." |
| Promotion offer | Promotion offer |
| During his interview, Mr Brown also admitted to having a weakness in how he presented himself to the public. | During his interview, Mr Brown also admitted to having a weakness in how he presented himself to the public. |
| "I'm not as great a presenter of information or communicator as I would like to be," he said. | "I'm not as great a presenter of information or communicator as I would like to be," he said. |
| He also said he offered Caroline Flint, the former Europe minister, a chance to attend every cabinet meeting, which she declined. | He also said he offered Caroline Flint, the former Europe minister, a chance to attend every cabinet meeting, which she declined. |
| Ms Flint resigned earlier this month, saying that Mr Brown used women as "window dressing" and complaining that she was never invited to cabinet, but he says he offered her "a promotion, not a demotion". | Ms Flint resigned earlier this month, saying that Mr Brown used women as "window dressing" and complaining that she was never invited to cabinet, but he says he offered her "a promotion, not a demotion". |
| Labour MP Tony Wright told the BBC that Mr Brown had faced enormous problems during his time as prime minister. | 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. | 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." | "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." |