Brown must dispel any notions he is presiding over a new phase of Blairism

HAD he called a snap general election this week and lost the key marginal constituencies in Britain in November, Gordon Brown could have destroyed his premiership.

Given how long he waited in the wings for the departure of Tony Blair, Brown’s premature departure from Downing Street would have been startling and ironic.

In doing nothing to dampen speculation about his intentions, he has, of course, only himself to blame for all the negative media coverage earlier this week.