The razor-sharp Paul Waugh has written on his blog of an intriguing theory why Gordon Brown got so angry yesterday. Waugh says he’s not so sure it’s true. Nor am I, though it does have a certain plausibility, and would explain a lot.
From Waugh’s blog:
Ever since his insult-the-voter masterpiece yesterday, the PM has been saying that he “misunderstood” what the doughty Mrs Duffy said about immigration.
Treat yourself or a friend this Christmas to a New Statesman subscription for just £2To most of us, hearing their exchanges, there was absolutely nothing to misunderstand.
“You can’t say anything about immigrants because they’re saying that you’re . . . but all these eastern Europeans what are coming in, where are they flocking from?”
Now, if you were being charitable to the PM, you’d say he may have not been listening properly, just heard the word “immigrants” and tuned out. Not paying full attention to a lifelong Labour voter is pretty unforgiveable politically, but could have given him kind of limp excuse.
Except that it is clear from the videotape that he hadn’t tuned out. Brown went on to use his argument about Brits emigrating, after all.
So there is another explanation that is currently doing the rounds. I know this may sound unbelievable but I pass it on nevertheless: that Brown “misheard” the word “flocking” and thought she had said: “Where are they f*cking from?” This, the theory goes, would explain his anger.
Hmmm. Not so sure myself.
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