Brown embarrassed by environment minister

Chancellor Gordon
Brown – the apparent prime minister in waiting – has been embarrassed by a
statement by one of his fellow ministers.

Speaking
on
BBC Question Time, environment minister
David Miliband said (in
response to Tony Blair’s decision to step down): ‘I predict that when I come
back on this programme in six months or a year’s time, people will be saying
‘wouldn’t it be great to have that Blair back because we can’t stand that Gordon
Brown.’

In an attempt to explain the statement, he added: ‘Whoever’s in, it’s one of
those things in government, people have a whack at you. That’s part of the joy
of politics. What I will say is that this country is richer, fairer, more
confident than it was 10 years ago and we should be grateful for it.’

Miliband said he was not suggesting that Gordon Brown would not be a suitable
leader.

‘I think Gordon Brown will be the prime minister. I think he will be a very
successful prime minister, but I think that in politics it is at election time
that people make their judgements,’ he said.

Further reading:

Ryanair CEO renews tirade against Brown

Debt and taxes

Brown ‘holding out’ for private sector tax boss