Cowen certain to take his lead from Gordon Brown

THOUGH you might not think it now, this column is about Brian Cowen. Because from now on everything in Irish politics is going to revolve around him, even if he fails in his quest to find the holey anorak.

On his first appearance outside Number 10 as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown used the word “change” at least a dozen times.

The point he wanted to make was as subtle as a riled Michael Ring perorating in the Dáil. Brown’s message, give or take, was: I AM NOW TAKING THE FOLLOWING THOUGHT AND RAMMING IT DOWN YOUR THROAT. I WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT TO TONY BLAIR.