Brown: TV debates clouded election

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today that the “novelty” of televised leaders’ debates had “clouded” the UK general election campaign.

As the push for votes nears its closing stage, Brown insisted he would have preferred to concentrate on “bigger policy issues” like the economy.

But he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The novelty of television debates clouded the need for policy to be debated.

“We’re making big choices about the NHS, schools and about jobs, industry and the economy.

“I feel we have not yet discussed sufficiently the risks to the economy in the future and the need for jobs to be secure.”

Mr Brown acknowledged Labour’s campaign had also been hit by the row over his calling lifelong Labour supporter Gillian Duffy a “bigoted woman”.

He said: “The real Gordon Brown is someone who makes mistakes and owns up to it quickly.

“I recognised I had made a mistake. It was loose words that I used and something that I don’t do.

“I’ve apologised to Mrs Duffy. I think I’ve done what’s right by apologising and I hope people understand that.”

With the polls due to open in less than 24 hours, Mr Brown denied he had a tendency to blame others, insisting: “I have said I take responsibility.”