Now for the Real Test of Global Gordon ; When the Chancellor Addressed the Tuc Yesterday He Was Seeking to Establish His Leadership Credentials

Evening Standard - London › September 14, 2005

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Summary

THIS week, we have had the first tantalising glimpses of a Gordon Brown premiership. The threat of a fuel crisis, real or imagined, loomed and the Chancellor, rather than the Prime Minister, set out how the Government intends to deal with it. Or failing that, how to explain it.

He appeared, first on Sunday morning television, then yesterday at the TUC in more stentorian mode, to put it all in a "global context". How " globalised" the oil problems were, was emphasised to remind us that a problem shared is - well, not Mr Brown's problem anyway.

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Extract

Now for the Real Test of Global Gordon ; When the Chancellor Addressed the Tuc Yesterday He Was Seeking to Establish His Leadership Credentials

The awkward question of fuel-duty rises was fudged.

Mindful of the utter chaos which engulfed ministers during the fuel protests five years ago, the Chancellor brought along the pointed message that the protesters would not triumph this time.

With a sense of comic timing only the TUC c...

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