A Jolie good day for Gordon
It is hard to see how yesterday could have been a worse for Tony Blair’s government. A huge row broke out over the failure to deport a bunch of foreign criminals—including murderers and rapists—at the end of their jail terms, Blair had his worst ever Prime Ministers Questions, the Deputy Prime Minister was revealed to ...
It is hard to see how yesterday could have been a worse for Tony Blair’s government. A huge row broke out over the failure to deport a bunch of foreign criminals—including murderers and rapists—at the end of their jail terms, Blair had his worst ever Prime Ministers Questions, the Deputy Prime Minister was revealed to have had an affair with one of his Civil Servants, and the Health Secretary was booed so vociferously at a meeting with nurses that she had to abandon her speech.
But one member of Her Majesty’s government had a good day, Gordon Brown: He got Angelina Jolie’s endorsement to succeed Tony Blair as PM. Celebrity endorsements are a little silly but Gordon seems very keen on racking them up, as does David Cameron. Cameron was “thrilled” to have recruited Bob Geldof to advise him on global poverty. But the endorsements matter more to Brown.
Cameron is a naturally glamorous guy who is at ease talking about his family and his emotions. He is every bit as good as Blair on the sofa. Brown is much more buttoned up and often comes across as a bit stiff and dull. Indeed, after all this time as Chancellor there is a risk that Brits will see him as a bean counter not a national leader. So, any star dust that Angelina, and friends, can lend him is most welcome. These testimonials are also novel and so help blunt the Tory attack on Brown as being “stuck in the past” and “an analogue politician in a digital age.” But then again, Jolie did make her name as a Tomb Raider.
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