I've had a brilliant year, boasts 'Stalinist' Brown (leaving out lost data, election U-turn, funding rows...)

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No10 published a glowing account of Gordon Brown's first six months in office

Gordon Brown was today accused of "Stalinist" re-writing of history after No10 published a glowing account of his first six months in office.

The "Look Back At The PM's Year 2007" gives a month-by-month review of Mr Brown's premiership since he took over from Tony Blair.

However, it omits, glosses over or gives a limited version of key events which have caused Mr Brown's popularity in the polls to plummet.

The general election that never was, the Labour funding scandal which could lead to the party's former general secretary, Peter Watt, facing criminal charges, the "Magpie Budget" which sparked claims that Labour was stealing Tory policies, and the massive breach of data security with the loss of Revenue and Customs discs containing personal details of 25 million people do not get a mention.

Not a single word is devoted to the furore over thousands of illegal immigrants being cleared to work as security guards, or the opposition Mr Brown is facing to give police longer than 28 days to detain suspected terrorists without charge.

The Northern Rock crisis which led to the first run on a British bank for 140 years gets a brief mention - but only in terms of how the Prime Minister has acted to protect nearly £30billion of taxpayer's cash being used to prop up the stricken lender.

Similarly, Mr Brown's signing of the EU Treaty merits a brief note but not the farcical scenes over his decision not to turn up for the official signing ceremony.

The blows to the Government, which have come almost daily, led to Mr Brown being derided in the Commons as "Mr Bean" despite having taken over with a reputation as a "Stalinist" tough boss.

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Opposition MPs were stunned by the official Downing Street account.

Shadow Cabinet member Chris Grayling said: "It looks like Gordon Brown is making a determined attempt to turn himself back into Stalin."

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg added: "This is taking spin to new levels."

However, Downing Street rejected the criticism and a spokesman said: "The website has reviewed some of the key activities of the Prime Minister."

She added that the Labour funding row was an issue for the party, the Budget a matter for the Chancellor and that several other events were the responsibility of other Cabinet ministers.

The No10 account starts in June stating: "Gordon Brown arrived at Number 10 as Prime Minister on 27 June 2007 and promised to do his utmost for the nation."

It then highlights how he dealt with the alleged attempted car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow airport, and goes on to list his role in the summer flooding and foot and mouth crises, and his work to improve schools, the NHS and overseas aid.

 

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