Matthew Parris really does not like Gordon Brown!

Former Tory MP Matthew Parris did not like the Labour Conference speech of British
Prime Minister Gordon Brown. For instance, Parris noted the promise to build a
network of state youth centres and to impose fines on parents of disruptive
children. The former MP wondered if the fines were going to pay for the
youth clubs.
In his article in the Times on Saturday (29/9/07) Parris says the Prime Minister
"is emotionally the opposite of what he pretends" and then later comments
"Pull back the curtains guarding this latter-day Wizard of Oz and you will find
a crafty but unimaginative 20th century Labour Politician: a bully with a big
ego, a yellow streak and nothing to say"
In the same edition of the Times, Janice Turner takes the opposite tack and is
fulsome in her praise of Gordon Brown. Turner says that the Tories will "get
nowhere trying to challenge Gordon Brown's authenticity."
She praises his recent pledge to review 24 hour drinking legislation and to sidline
supercasinos.
What is my view? I suppose it is interesting that a lot of people, who know
or worked with Mr Brown don't like him. He was described as Stalinist by one
civil servant. I like Mr Brown's love of football but it was telling that
the prime minister's office rejected taking part in the debate proposed
by Michel Platini of UEFA about the growing influence of big money in the
game. I suppose Mr Brown is too scared to take on Mr Rupert Murdoch and Sky Sports but you have to wonder when a Thai fugitive can buy Manchester City. Apparently,
coming up on one weekend there will be just one Premier League game at 3pm on Saturday.