Gordon Brown: I could walk away from this tomorrow

[T_i_B]

Source: UK Guardian

Gordon Brown has admitted that he has been "hurt" by the personal attacks on him during the failed attempt to oust him this month, and said that he might move to teaching after he leaves office.

Speaking to the Guardian in his first interview since the attempted coup by Labour backbenchers, the prime minister made an unprecedentedly frank series of observations on his time in office, reflecting that the recent weeks have been the worst of his political life.

"To be honest, you could walk away from all of this tomorrow," he said. "I'm not interested in what accompanies being in power. I wouldn't worry if I never returned to all those places - Downing Street, Chequers ... And it would probably be good for my children."

In an apparent acknowledgement of criticism of a lack of vision at the heart of government, the prime minister said he had found it hard to focus on strategic planning "as you have to deal with immediate events, like if a bank's going to go under".




Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/20/gordon-brown-guardian-interview

---

Interview here http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/20/gordon-brown-interview

[MADem]

1. Well, that just might be arranged. He's not doing too well... nt

[dipsydoodle]

2. This morning would suit me far better

.

[rpannier]

3. Please do walk away

No...run away...Very fast

[Tabasco_Dave]

4. This song is for you Gordon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ds2O0Td6IY

[Loudmxr]

5. Good for "All My Children"? I didn't know he was a cast member.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Have a nice trip.

[Sukie]

7. I imagine Brown must feel much like Obama might. NT

[JI7]

13. OBama is mostly loved still while Brown is very unpopular

[LeftishBrit]

8. Unfortunately most of the rest of us can't.

The sad thing is there is virtually no chance of getting anything better, and a very high likelihood of getting something much worse: the Tories.

[xchrom]

9. 'evita? -- is that you?' nt

[PassingFair]

10. He's either a liar or a complete idiot.

Or both...

snip> For the first time, the prime minister conceded 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" and had been under heavy pressure to deregulate further. He also acknowledged that he "didn't know a lot about" banks buying up sub-prime mortgages during his period as chancellor, but argued that the global nature of modern banking meant such behaviour would "continue to happen". <unsnip

[Odin2005]

11. You can resign right now if you want to, Gordy.

[conspirator]

12. We can replace you for a brick. No one will notice nt

[LeftishBrit]

14. If only it was a brick that was likely to replace him, and not David Cameron!

That's an idea - perhaps someone should start a Bricks Party. You could imagine the slogan - 'Building a Better Future for Britain'. Actually, "You're a brick!" is an old-fashioned British compliment.

Cameron could be replaced by two short planks, and the IQ level of the Tory leadership would go up.