It takes some going to get me to ride to Gordon Brown's defence but I will this morning. There's a classic non-story brewing on some right wing blogs alleging that Brown misled reporters at his press conference yesterday when questioned about a meeting with David Beckham. Here's the question and his response:
The non-story (here, here & here and probably on a million other blogs by tea time) is that Brown denied he was meeting Beckham when he did just that only a few hours later. But he didn't - read that extract above again. I was going to use bold and italics to flag the key points and explain what was being said until I realised how pathetic that would be - it's a 120-odd words that my son isn't a million miles away from being able to understand and he's 18 months old. The questioner suggested a meeting was planned and Brown didn't deny that - the questioner also suggested the likely topic of discussion and Brown corrected him on it. End. Of . Story.
That Brown didn't explicitly acknowledge the meeting is, granted, a little strange. But I'm quite comfortable with the fact a meeting with a footballer isn't to the fore of the Prime Minister's mind, even if it is in the next few hours. There are many, many things to take Gordon Brown to task over and when I think it's justified I'll join the throng doing just that. But trying to whip up a story on this flimsy a premise should be beneath these reasonably august blogs...
Question:
I think you are meeting David Beckham in the near future. Can you tell us why? Do you want him to have some sort of role in encouraging youngsters to get into sport?
Prime Minister:
David Beckham did a brilliant job helping us win the Olympics. He was one of the team that helped us win the Olympic decision for London for 2012 and I think the whole country was grateful for the work he and others did to make that possible. And if David Beckham could help us in the future on some of the other big national projects, that would be to the benefit of the country as well. But I have got no specific plans to talk to him about them.
The non-story (here, here & here and probably on a million other blogs by tea time) is that Brown denied he was meeting Beckham when he did just that only a few hours later. But he didn't - read that extract above again. I was going to use bold and italics to flag the key points and explain what was being said until I realised how pathetic that would be - it's a 120-odd words that my son isn't a million miles away from being able to understand and he's 18 months old. The questioner suggested a meeting was planned and Brown didn't deny that - the questioner also suggested the likely topic of discussion and Brown corrected him on it. End. Of . Story.
That Brown didn't explicitly acknowledge the meeting is, granted, a little strange. But I'm quite comfortable with the fact a meeting with a footballer isn't to the fore of the Prime Minister's mind, even if it is in the next few hours. There are many, many things to take Gordon Brown to task over and when I think it's justified I'll join the throng doing just that. But trying to whip up a story on this flimsy a premise should be beneath these reasonably august blogs...
Labels: Politics
9 Comments:
I don`t follow you ( or Bob) , he said he had no plans to meet David Beckham, and then he did ? Are you suggesting they walked into the same room by coincidence or that Brown changed his mind or tyat he planned to talk only about rivial things an that was his meaning .
Surely the obvious explanation is the same as for the books of heroes that others wrote and the meetings he claimed happened that were actually with his accolytes.He has a Commmisar of common people and really cannot be bothered to keep track of where he is grinning like a corpse next , for their benefit .His disdain for ordinary people is almost endearing I grant you but it is a telling detail about the Redwood -esque attitude and worth noting .
He didn't say he had 'no plans' to meet him - read the quote again...
Well said Cassie; like the Australian cricketers, these rightwing bloggers have no shame. And it's a classic 'non story' too.
I think we all appreciate newmania BA LIT (Hons) has difficulty writing, but he is having problems reading straightforward English now!
At least Dale was shamefaced enough to keep quiet... his puppets are obviously not so bright.
If Brown had planned it all for publicity, the cameras would all ahve been primed. As it was Adnrew Marr told Radio Five that he was doing a piece to camera for the six o'clock news (recorded) and was the only camera crew with a camera on when Beckham arrived, meaning they got an exclusive.
Andrew Marr actually sounded quite star struck.
If Crown had planned it all the camera crews would ahve been ready for Beckham.
Bob back for more lessons I see, the typing is hurried thats all, I am at work.
No I did read it , by saying nothing about a meeting that close except that he had no plans for meaningful discussions with Beckham he was, you say , allowing the possibility of pointless PR op which , he had obviously forgotten about. A mistake
After the meeting the usual guff about big plans to help came out which proves this was a mistake and that the it was such an ephemeral piece of "New Politics" that he was too bored to remember.
A small thing perhaps but telling about Brown`s lonely speration from the concerns of ordinary people for whom this would resonate.
Norfolk think s that the fact only Marr was there is evidence of something does he ...poor thing
NM - the allegation was that he lied. The transcript proves that to be false so you've just tried to reframe the allegation.
Now, he may well have made a mistake, been obtuse, forgot something or any other such charge and you're welcome to wax lyrical about that all you wish - but the original charge was nonsense.
Good grace demands you at least acknowledge as much....
We are past the time for apportioning blame C ..its time to move on :)
Liam, I think that might even mean he accepts you are right. I suppose it is the closest we are going to get to getting newmania to admit that black is not in fact white after all.
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