Brown: I’ve faced the toughest times of my political career
The prime minister has confirmed the events of recent weeks have been the toughest he has faced in his life in politics.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Gordon Brown admitted a weakness in how he presented himself and communicated to the public but insisted the Labour party could win the next election under his leadership.
The embattled prime minister was speaking in the aftermath of a failed attempt within the Labour party to oust him from the helm. When asked if he had ever faced anything as tough as the events of recent weeks, Mr Brown replied: “In my political life, not so much.”
He went on: “To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow.
“I’m not interested in what accompanies being in power. It wouldn’t worry me if I never returned to any of those places – Downing Street, Chequers.
“That would not worry me at all. And it would probably be good for my children.”
The prime minister, who claimed the government had taken decisive action on the economy that would yield greater results than the Conservatives’ public spending cuts, said he had considered moving into the “great profession” of teaching after leaving office.
Though Mr Brown confirmed a lack of confidence over his ability to communicate to the public, he strenuously denied resigning minister Jane Kennedy’s claims that “macho politics” were practised within Downing Street.
“Look, find weaknesses in me, criticise me for my weaknesses – I’m not as great a presenter of information or communicator as I would like to be,” he explained.
“But the one thing people should not say is that I’m surrounded by some group of conspirators.”
The prime minister also claimed he had offered former Europe minister Caroline Flint – who complained the government used women as “window dressing” – a chance to attend every Cabinet meeting, as well as “a promotion, not a demotion”.
