Bigot-gate

Labour have lost this General Election. Whether Cameron's Tories will actually get most seats - they cannot get enough for an overall majority - depends on the vagaries of the first-past-the-post electoral system but it was Brown that lost it. Yesterday, Gordon Brown had his Ron Atkinson moment. Many will remember that almost exactly six years ago, at the end of a Champions League semi-final football match between Monaco and Chelsea, after the broadcast had ended, Big Ron's microphone was left switched on and commenting on the under-performing French defender Marcel Desailly, the much-loved pundit was heard to say that Desailly was "what is known in some schools as a fucking lazy, thick nigger." The off-the-cuff overheard remark was enough to instantly end Ron Atkinson's career on mainstream TV - which was a pity; he was a well-informed, experienced commentator with some amusing turns of phrase that made listening a pleasure. But he transgressed and that was it in this world of political correctness. He lost his contracts with several newspapers as well and overall, this one comment cost him more than £1m. It was not enough for him to apologize. And after keeping quiet for some weeks, Desailly brushed off the comment - after all, he was a highly paid footballer and Big Ron's remarks did not change that.

Gordon Brown's Atkinson moment occurred in Rochdale yesterday, when, as part of the meet the people approach to electioneering Gordon Brown was introduced to Gillian Duffy, a 70 year old pensioner and a life-time Labour supported who raised with the PM quite reasonable questions about the vast national debt and uncontrolled immigration - which is a problem in Rochdale. There was no major confrontation and Gordon, the Great New Labour Leader departed in the official car with the famous concrete smile on his face. In the car, having forgotten that there was a live mic still clipped to his collar made remarks about the disastrous meeting with the "bigoted woman". He was in what appeared to be a foul mood and the remarks were broadcast to the nation. Reporters spoke to Mrs Duffy and asked what she thought of her meeting with Gordon Brown. Initially, she was quite pleased to have had the chance to talk directly with the PM but when the reporters told her what the PM had said in the privacy of his car - and allowed her to hear the actual recording - she was very visibly upset. Later, when Brown discovered what had happened he issued an apology and went back to Rochdale to meet Mrs Duffy again in her home - by now surrounded by thousands of media people - and spent 40 minutes alone talking to her and apologizing to her face-to-face. When he came out - without Mrs Duffy - he repeated his apology and said that he had misunderstood what she had been asking. A remark that is hardly believable. I was inclined to think that this was one of those unfortunate occasions when someone says in private something that they did not realise was overheard, which they later regret and that everything would blow over. But now that I have seen on TV just how much Mrs Duffy was upset by what Gordon Brown said only seconds after he left her in the street, this is something that will not go away. It re-enforces all the feelings that the electorate has that politicians - and in particular this government - are all out of touch with ordinary people, treating them as no more than election fodder. Throughout this election campaign all parties have sought to avoid discussing the two questions that most tax the nation - the national debt and immigration. How can we decide who to vote for when they tell us nothing about what they will do? However, I think this day will mark the beginning of the end of Gordon Brown's political career. He has his good points but bed-side manner is not one of them. Like Ron Atkinson, an off-the-cuff remark will have catastrophic consequences.

We will see.

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