Brown heads to India as British PM in waiting
The India trip will also see discussions on combating climate change - another of Brown's pet subjects -- and making world trade fairer, which he has championed in several trips to Africa and speeches in recent years.
By Agencies |
LONDON: Britain's finance minister Gordon Brown heads to India on Tuesday in the latest engagement aimed at boosting his public profile before he is expected to take over from Tony Blair as prime minister.
Ordinarily, the three-day trip with Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling -- a possible successor to Brown as a chancellor of the exchequer - would not be headline news: the focus is on boosting bilateral trade links.
But political editors from British newspapers and television news channels have signed up to follow Brown's every move, taking precedence over Blair's monthly press conference on Tuesday.
After 10 years waiting in the wings, the man known for his prudent stewardship of the British economy is finally seeing the balance of power shifting in his favour. "The British public know him only as the chancellor of the exchequer -- a successful one so far -- and he wants to widen his remit to show the British public he has the potential to be prime minister," George Jones, a retired politics professor from the London School of Economics, told the media.
In recent weeks, Brown, 55, has addressed issues across the political spectrum, from education and health to the threat of Scottish nationalism in forthcoming mid-term elections. He has defended Britain's contentious foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan and paid a visit to troops in the southern city of Basra in November, pledging more money to help their fight against insurgents.
The India trip will also see discussions on combating climate change - another of Brown's pet subjects -- and making world trade fairer, which he has championed in several trips to Africa and speeches in recent years.
For Jones, the very public media offensive is a way of dispelling doubters over his fitness to lead. "He wants to show himself as a more rounded human being," he added.
Many commentators felt Brown's stock was damaged in September last year after he allegedly orchestrated a campaign by his supporters to force Blair into saying he would leave office within 12 months.
The row rumbled on after former home secretary and Blair ally Charles Clarke branded Brown a "control freak" who could not work well with other.
Ordinarily, the three-day trip with Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling -- a possible successor to Brown as a chancellor of the exchequer - would not be headline news: the focus is on boosting bilateral trade links.
But political editors from British newspapers and television news channels have signed up to follow Brown's every move, taking precedence over Blair's monthly press conference on Tuesday.
After 10 years waiting in the wings, the man known for his prudent stewardship of the British economy is finally seeing the balance of power shifting in his favour. "The British public know him only as the chancellor of the exchequer -- a successful one so far -- and he wants to widen his remit to show the British public he has the potential to be prime minister," George Jones, a retired politics professor from the London School of Economics, told the media.
In recent weeks, Brown, 55, has addressed issues across the political spectrum, from education and health to the threat of Scottish nationalism in forthcoming mid-term elections. He has defended Britain's contentious foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan and paid a visit to troops in the southern city of Basra in November, pledging more money to help their fight against insurgents.
The India trip will also see discussions on combating climate change - another of Brown's pet subjects -- and making world trade fairer, which he has championed in several trips to Africa and speeches in recent years.
ADVERTISEMENT
For Jones, the very public media offensive is a way of dispelling doubters over his fitness to lead. "He wants to show himself as a more rounded human being," he added.
Many commentators felt Brown's stock was damaged in September last year after he allegedly orchestrated a campaign by his supporters to force Blair into saying he would leave office within 12 months.
The row rumbled on after former home secretary and Blair ally Charles Clarke branded Brown a "control freak" who could not work well with other.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
