Charity Begins At Home

It's reported Gordon is touting round for a highly-paid speaking tour to talk about the financial crisis and how to avoid another one. Stop laughing or you'll spill your coffee.

It's understood he's in talks about engagements based on his new book The Financial Crisis and is keen to hit the lecture circuit in the Middle East and Asia for a fee of $100,000 (£60,000) for each speech.

His fee is well under the £180,000 plus his Labour predecessor Blair is said to command but it would considerably boost his post-Downing Street income. Mind you, it does fly in the face of his declaration that he intended to devote the next stage of his career to charitable and worthy causes but then again, we must remember charity begins at home.

One report claims he is demanding to travel in style with conditions including five star hotel accommodation, one first class seat and three business class seats on flights. That would indicate Sarah would be consigned to business class if she does with him which, if speculation proves correct, she may well do. She's said to be on offer for $20,000 (£13,000) as an 'optional extra' to present a prize at award ceremonies where he speaks.

A labour 'insider' said:

“It seems that after following in his footsteps as PM, seeking to do charity work and writing books, Gordon is now determined to still follow in Tony’s shadow by going on the speaking tour. That’s another comparison in which he is bound to come second.”

Ouch! What else can I say without making the man look more ridiculous?

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Sarah Brown, Would-Be Author

I laughed when I read the first sentence of the Scotsman's gushing advertisement regarding Sarah Brown's yet-to-be-written book about her life in Downing Street:

IT WILL be a tale to which all women can relate: how to shop with Special Branch and compete against the groomed poise of Carla Bruni on a "bad hair day".

Every woman relate? Her tweet read: 'Just agreed with my publisher...' Now ladies, surely we can all relate to agreeing with our publisher?

Anyway, to show I'm not in the least envious, and just in case Gordon's still too busy answering the endless array of thank-you cards down there in North Queensferry, I offer my congratulations. It's not every day an ex-PM's wife/husband writes a book is it? Oh, well there's Cherie Blair, Denis Thatcher. Never mind Sarah, I'm sure yours will be a best seller.

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Equality - What Equality

We've had Gordon Brown give his resignation speech outside No 10 accompanied by his wife.

We've had Gordon Brown visit Buckingham Palace to offer his resignation which was accepted. Again he was accompanied by his wife.

David Cameron has been to the Palace to accept an invitation from the Queen to form a new government. He was accompanied by his wife.

During the past six days I have watched the machinations of testosterone fueled discussions on the media. Women appeared to be wheeled out as an after-thought.

In the UK over 50% of the population is female, yet the television coverage could well have been back in the 50s or 60s when no women, not even Prime Minister's wives, were publicly paraded.

Much as I want to see more women having positions of power in Westminster politics, can we stop the fashion of Prime Ministers' and party leaders' wives being part of the power of the UK?

It certainly does not do the cause of equality any good.

We now have another Prime Minister. I hope his wife is not going to be his full-time PR.

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Gordon Brown's Speech

This is not an analysis of Gordon Brown's speech but a criticism of this particular part:

And I say this too; these are my values – the values I grew up with in an ordinary family in an ordinary town.

Like most families on middle and modest incomes we believed in making the most of our talents.

But we knew that no matter how hard we worked free education was our only pathway to being the best we could be. Because like most parents, my parents could not easily afford to put me and my brothers through fee paying schools.

Why does he continually try to portray himself as an ordinary chap from an ordinary Scottish family when we all know, that back in the 50s, the minister and his family were a cut above most of us?

According to this article Gordon Brown and his brothers were encouraged to help local families, made unemployed by factory closures, when they lived in Kirkcaldy. They also set up a tuck shop in the family's garage and started a newspaper to raise money for African refugees.

I was brought up in Scotland in the same era and none of my peers lived in a house with a garage. In fact I was one of the lucky ones who was privileged to have an inside toilet and didn't have to share one situated on the landing.

If Gordon Brown would be honest and admit he came from a privileged background instead of denying his roots and effecting the fantasy of being part of the working class of these days, then perhaps I would take his words more seriously.

As an aside, did anyone notice Sarah Brown appeared to be 'guiding' her husband around during the meet and greet sessions - particularly the choreographed outdoor events?

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Dressed to Impress?

The Mail's caption to the above photographs was Dressed to Impressed: Sarah Brown in her brown dress in New York (left) and then disembarking in Pittsburgh later yesterday evening.

If anyone knows the name of her fashion adviser could they please tell me. I'll circulate it round my friends just to ensure they give him/her a really wide berth.

Her companion's style is beyond criticism but then this post is about the power behind the suit.

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Tweet of the Week

Tweet of the Week

SarahBrown10Beautiful afternoon - strawberry plants have baby strawbs, and peppers and tomatoes shooting up. Need to sort out my twitpics
about 2 hours ago from web

I do wish I'd put a bet on for her to make more money than her husband when he's given the heave-ho.  She knows how to use technology, much to my envy.  Of course it's all meticulously planned through the No 10 PR department and one which may work with 'floating' voters. Forgive me asking but who had one of the most reputable and efficient PR companies in the UK?  Aye you've guessed, Sarah Brown.

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A Campaign Star in Training?

I follow Sarah Brown on Twitter.  When she joined Twitter a few weeks ago it was said she wanted to promote worldwide childbirth issues but more and more I feel she's gearing up to take a prominent role in UK elections.  Two tweets today are an example.

SarahBrown10@ ANGIEANDMIKE of course Cardiff is great too (my grandfather from there) but couldn't do it all in one day! Another time

about 3 hours ago from web

SarahBrown10Visit to Swansea - always meet great people in Wales, this time no exception, great warm welcome.

about 4 hours ago from web

Of course she featured in the Glenrothes by-election but it wouldn't surprise me if she was aiming for even higher heights.

Who was it who said, "I would never use my family for political purposes," again?

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Tweet of the Week - Sarah Brown

Tweet of the Week

SarahBrown10Just got back home - so pleased to be back and see everyone

less than a minute ago from web

I don't usually comment on tweets but this one is an exception. Sarah Brown just tweeted the above. She has been in North Queensferry this week. I won't say 'at home' because she obviously doesn't think it is home. I wonder what her husband's electorate would think if they read it because they are so proud the Browns home is there. A wee bit miffed perhaps?

Editor's amendment:  She has been in Hollywood not North Queensferry.  Gordon Brown was alone in North Queensferry, but the message still infers home is London.  My apologies.

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