Comment: Grinning Gordon is bad news for the Tories
Gordon Brown in distinctly cheerful mood
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One year ago the government trailed a 'green Budget' as a handy way of distracting voters from the perilous state of the public finances. Twelve months on, history seems to be repeating itself. |  |
Tuesday, 21, Apr 2009 12:00
There's a reason Gordon Brown is grinning so much in his Youtube video this morning.
By Alex Stevenson
The prime minister was unveiling unexpected reforms of MPs' expenses, which – if the government gets its way in the Commons – will come into effect by July 1st this year.
Why the hurry, Gordon? Why the rush?
Every decision taken by politicians is made within the context of the electoral cycle. It so happens there's a general election coming up next year. And the government could do with improving its reputation on the dirtier side of politics.
Until very recently – ie 10:59 this morning – the government's policy was to wait for the outcome of a review by Sir Christopher Kelly into MPs' allowances.
Brown had conceded in prime minister's questions he would meet with opposition leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg to discuss the issue, as recession-sensitive Britain finally lost patience with MPs throughout the first months of 2009.
Now, from being on the defensive on the issue – and being damaged even further by the Damian McBride affair – Brown has given himself the opportunity to go on the offensive.
Rather than sitting down and listening to Conservative proposals, the meeting will take place on the government's terms.
How can Brown get away with this? By pressing, of course, that Sir Christopher's review will remain the basis for a long-term solution.
Despite being 'interim', the proposals are wide-ranging enough to make a real difference to public opinion. They represent a fundamental change of approach. The government may have a lot of ground to make up when it comes to the grubbier side of politics. This would surely be a start.
But today's announcements go much further than that.
Among the proposals for greater transparency is the issue of conflicts of interest in MPs' second jobs, an area not focused on by the media recently.
Today's statement from Harriet Harman says: "Where members of parliament have a second source of income from second jobs, irrespective of whether it is in their capacity as an MP, every payment shall be declared with a full description of who paid and what for. There shall also be a full declaration of the hours worked for the payment received."
It's a well-known fact that many Conservative MPs have second jobs. How will it look if they oppose this element of the proposals? Will they consider the disclosure of their second incomes relevant to transparency and conflict of interest issues? There are clear perils in entrenched opposition here.
Judging from the body language seen in Brown's Downing Street video clip, he knows his proposals have clear potential for Labour.
We are accustomed to seeing the PM sullen and unanimated in his public addresses.
Even as chairman of the G20, announcing a global package worth $1 trillion to rescue the world economy, there was little by way of excitement or zest in his delivery.
Now, all of a sudden, Brown has decided to become animated.
He smiles sweetly as he reflects on the young people he has met on his travels. He shrugs, with the manner of a friendly Gallic farmer, as he discusses the need to scrap the second home allowance. And his eyebrows discover a mobility they may not have previously known as he calls for "urgent" reform.
It utterly fails to convince, of course, although it is as adorable as it is pathetic. But that doesn't matter as the meaning he intends to convey is clear.
Brown is happier about these proposals than you might have expected him to be. As his new best friend Barack Obama might say: "Go figure".