Matthew Dancona

Is Brown embracing wiki-politics?

Well, well. I have just watched Gordon Brown deliver a speech on the global economy and the web at the Google Zeitgeist forum at The Grove hotel. Someone has definitely put something in the PM’s tea, because this was a very different Gordon to the testy, embattled figure of the past few weeks.

Confident, relaxed and witty, he delivered his speech without notes, pacing the stage and playing the audience at this excellent event.

Instead of lecturing them – the cream of the new media world – he praised them for their part in the ‘biggest re-structuring of the global economy we have seen in our history.’ He urged them, in troubled times, when the popular clamour for protectionist measures will inevitably grow, to be resolute, patient advocates for free trade and globalisation.

In the questions afterwards, he leant back in his chair and roared with laughter when asked about Britain joining the euro.

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