Meet Gordon Brown, comedian

You would normally have to pay thousands of pounds for the pleasure, but Mr S and the Westminster hack pack were treated to a Gordon Brown speech for free on Monday lunchtime. In a rare Westminster sighting, the former Prime Minister had his gawky fake smile glued in place as he reflected on his tumultuous relationship with the media while he addressed the Parliamentary Press Gallery about the campaign to save the Union. Brown has clearly seen that wind will blow the way of the No campaign and is getting involved late in the day – just in time to grab the glory. He once claimed to have saved the world, and saving the United Kingdom will nicely complement that honour.

Flanked by loyal lieutenants Stewart Wood and Alison McGovern, he was trying his hardest to be chummy and jovial Gordon, content in his post-power world, rather than the brooding and dour Brown who just four years ago clung on to the keys of Downing Street by his well chewed fingernails.