Brown’s version of events

Gordon Brown’s speech in the House of Commons just now was remarkable. It was completely deluded, one of the most one-sided versions of history you’re ever likely to hear. Abetted by the Speaker, Brown spoke for what must have been at least half an hour trying to justify his record in office and depict himself as someone who was prepared to take on the Murdoch empire, which he certainly was not while News International was supporting Labour.

Rather than acknowledging—as Ed Miliband and Peter Mandelson have—, that Labour got far too close to News International and was too scared of it, he presented an entirely self-serving version of history. To the fury of the Tory benches, he ignored that he and Sarah Brown assiduously courted Rebekah Brooks. There was no recognition of the fact that he did his utmost to impress the Murdochs and the Murdoch papers.

But buried beneath the self-justifying bombast there were some serious points.