Gordon grovels

Gordon Brown speaking to local resident Gillian Duffy in Rochdale. Picture: Press Association

ELECTION 2010

PM’s ‘bigot’ comment regret

Gordon Brown will attempt to lift himself for the third and final prime ministerial debate today after offering a grovelling apology for branding a pensioner “bigoted”.

With just a week left until the General Election and polls showing the parties still deadlocked, Labour strategists have been billing this evening’s economy–themed clash as an opportunity for the Prime Minister to turn the tide of the campaign.

But thanks to his unguarded comments about Gillian Duffy, overheard on a stray microphone, Mr Brown’s personality is again centre stage.

In an email to party activists last night, the premier offered them the same “profound” apology he had made to Mrs Duffy, and promised they would see him in a different “context” in the debate.

The developments came after a dramatic day of campaigning which saw the gaffe overshadow all discussion of policy.

The premier was canvassing in Rochdale when he met retired council worker Mrs Duffy, who asked him a series of questions including about benefits and the eastern Europeans who had been “flooding” into Britain.

The discussion ended amicably, but as Mr Brown was swept away in his car, he told an aide the encounter had been “a disaster”, unaware that his words were being transmitted by a Sky News radio microphone which he had forgotten to remove.

Asked what Mrs Duffy had said, he replied: “Everything, she was just a sort of bigoted woman who said she used to be Labour.”

Mrs Duffy has yet to emerge publicly to give her account of the exchange.

Catch up with the candidates at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/elections/