A new joke has entered the PM's arsenal.

Speaking at the Progressive Governance conference, he recalled his first experience of foreign affairs.

Back when he and Tone were sharing an office in opposition (and presumably still on speaking terms) the wunderkind duo were often called on to fill in for Gerald Kaufman, then Labour's foreign affairs spokesman, on his trips to the theatre.

One night Mr Brown drew the short straw and returned to the office at ten at night to carry out an interview with a radio station "down under".

Pretty quickly the PM was put on the spot - the host quizzing him as to why Labour were doing so well in the UK, but "mired in mud" there.

Not so, cried the then left-winger. I was speaking with Bob Hawke recently and he told me Labour were making great strides in Australia.

There was something of a pregnant pause, before the interviewer said," We're in New Zealand, mate."

The sad thing is, I think that may prove the weekend's highight...

UPDATE: Not new at all, it seems. This joke, I'm told, had an outing at the party conference.

Given that the meat of his speech had the air of familiarity to it, I really shouldn't be surprised...

Comments

[Bruce Hulmes 7 Apr 2008 16:22:32]

G,King
You ask if Labour supporters get hypnotic happy pills, well nearly they call it benefits, British Passports,child allowance for those mothers who forgot the fathers name or never even asked for it. Those on their tax/council tax funded pensions. And those of a certain culture who can now have four wives and claim for them all, if you or I tried this little tax dodge we would get seven years. Those North of the Border who are not affected by the problems South of the Border because this Scottish dominated government gave them Holyrood which quite convieniently over turns any aspects of law which the Scots do not like.That is why of the ten most likely areas to be affected by a drop in house prices in the near future 9No are in England and 1No is in N.I. none in Scotland and the same with the proposed Eco/Overspill/white flight towns you may have noticed all are south of the border no housing shortage up in Fife.
So remember do not ask what you can do for your country, ask the governemt what they can do to buy your vote.

[Khalid 7 Apr 2008 10:17:42]

Well, [There You Go-Pink, Education, Education, Education!

[Fellipe, England 6 Apr 2008 11:05:03]

The Great McBottler....reusing jokes, policies, announcements.

Surely not...lol!

I see that he is proud to be ditching that 10% tax band and simplifying the tax system.

Hmmmmm....hang on....wasn't it him that brought it in to make sure lower paid workers got more cash...?

How strange...does this mean that some lower paid single workers not able to even attemt the obstacle course of Tax Credits lose out.

Short answer....Yes!!

I will be better off at their expense and even I think that's wrong. I can remember being in that position. It may only be a small percentage of their wage that decreases but that is a lot of money to people who don't have their expenses paid or receive huge salaries and perks.

They have completely lost the plot and their integrity.

McBottler should be ashamed of what he and his cohorts have done to a once very idealist party.

Keir Hardie must be spinning in his grave.

[G.KING SUSSEX 6 Apr 2008 08:35:01]

According to Carol-Anne.We live in a utopian society.We have a wonderfully caring and honest government.Our standard of living is the best in the world.All labour party members are angels headed by Bottler Angel Gabriel.We are the envy of the world.We have insignificant crime.Our NHS is the cleanest and best in the world.Our education system is admired.We look after our pensioners.We have no problem with mass immigration.Invading Iraq was necessary and was democratic.We look after our poor and in fact the World's poor.Anyone not supporting this wonderful government is evil and an enemy of the state.Non believers are ridiculed and ostracised and in fact if C-Anne had her own way would be thrown out of this paradise that is England.
Why can't I be hypnotised into believing that this is all true.Why is it that I dont see what C-A sees.Do supporters get special hypnotic happy pills that are e only available to Bottlers.
A non believer called Boris is the latest to be hounded and spied and hacked on.Will he be the first to be fed to the lions.It is like history repeating itself.

[Khalid 5 Apr 2008 14:58:57]

Certainly not a [Shy Boy] is he when he goes [Bananarama]?

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Apr 2008 14:56:18]

Before becoming an MP Mr Brown led a very sheltered life in Scotland, and still doesn't holiday offshore, so he probably doesn't know the difference between Aussie and Kiwi.

[carol-ann liverpool 5 Apr 2008 02:46:25]

Niall

The line:

'making great strides in Australia' had me thinking that he was talking about labourers making trousers/slacks/jeans!

Doesn't Crocodile Dundee wear 'strides'!

come to think about it, that would make a better joke - pass it on, Niall - GB needs all the help he can get lately!

[Bernard from Horsham 4 Apr 2008 22:57:29]

Air of familiarity.. As soon as Gordon starts being economical with the truth about low inflation at 2%, the entire nation switches off except the die hards. That one untruth undoes everything else. My loaf of bread in the supermarket just went up from 99p to 1.09, thats over 10% never mind fuel up at 1.159 for diesel (over £5 a gallon), council tax up 4.5% butter wheat products and other essential going thro the roof. and then there is electricity gas and water going up 15% or more. Mr and Mrs average know what's going on, but Gordo doesn't. Hiding the car tax increases in the detail of the budget is another kick in the teeth... whilst Mr and Mrs A start having to pay massive increases in their mortgage whilst their house price fall (and they have a long way to go down)
Out of touch. You got it.

[Bruce Hulmes 4 Apr 2008 21:56:25]

Lucky for them New Labour were not looking for weapons of mass destruction or they would have got the wrong country twice.