Weather Morning: 9°c Sunny spells Afternoon: 10°c Sunny spells

News

Lisa Snowdon and Gordon Brown
Clinch: Lisa Snowdon and Gordon Brown
Lisa Snowdon and Gordon Brown Lisa Snowdon on Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly speaking Mr Brown, you should be leading

Joe Murphy, Political Editor
11 Dec 2008


HE'S ALWAYS been strictly serious, but Gordon Brown tried to lighten up today by taking a twirl with Strictly Come Dancing semi-finalist Lisa Snowdon.

Only one problem spoiled what should have been a spin doctor's dream photocall: Mr Brown, as ballroom enthusiasts instantly spotted, adopted the female position for their brief dance.

At the very least, it meant the Prime Minister was playing second fiddle to his celebrity partner, when they opened a new London headquarters of the Global Radio Group. It confirmed what his critics had suspected: he is not the type of chap to whisk his partner off her feet for a night of waltzing.

The traditional hold in ballroom dancing has the man's right hand holding his partner around her waist. His left arm is the one that is meant to be outstretched, holding her right hand. In the PM's case, the arms were reversed. Downing Street was strictly ignoring the embarrassing mistake. Asked if he had ever been taught to dance, a spokeswoman promised to make inquiries but was markedly slow in coming back.

The gaffe could have earned Mr Brown the distinction of being an even worse dancer than former BBC political editor John Sergeant, who bowed out of the TV contest.

Capital FM presenter Ms Snowdon stars in the BBC television programme's final this weekend. Mr Brown's dancing days were thought to be over rather sooner.

Reader views (14)

 Add your view

Female position eh...!! Ohh er missus.

- Philip, Bristol, 15/12/2008 13:34
Report abuse

This will no doubt start all those rumours that Peter Mandelson was busy starting all those years ago... "completely untrue", of course...

- Niccolo Machiavelli, London, UK, 13/12/2008 15:02
Report abuse

For goodness sake, instead of critizing we should all be encouraging him to give up the day job!

- Pushkin, Pushkin, Durham, 13/12/2008 13:27
Report abuse

Another pathetic photo op from Mr "serious people for serious times" Broon. Add this to "Writing" to the X-factor contestants, we can see the spin and triviality that NuLav have always been so fond of, is still central to their philosophy. Worth noting of course, that Labour "luvvie" Lord Attenborough, is the chairman of Capital Radio, for whom Sarah Snowdon works. The government supply Capital with a lot of advertising revenue, as they do with many commercial broadcasters as well. Doing Photo ops with Labour, are all part of the deal.

- Srn, London, UK, 12/12/2008 14:19
Report abuse

Can we vote him off now please?

- Tpr, IOW, 12/12/2008 13:39
Report abuse

He's an idiot.

- Lord Elvis, Brown's La-La Land, 12/12/2008 13:13
Report abuse

Thats it then - Lisa's lost my vote

- Jack Ladd, Bodmin Cornwall, 12/12/2008 11:54
Report abuse

When in doubt follow, copy or sit it out!

- Oap, Cambridge UK, 12/12/2008 09:16
Report abuse

Wonder what Vince Cable charges for lessons?

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 11/12/2008 18:25
Report abuse

In yet another disasterously calamitous week for Britain's evaporating businesses, and with the country heading for near irrepairable damage, Gurner Gordon's trivially been drifting around radio studios, filling TV sofas and generally hiddeously attempting to promote his grotesque image.

Lord help us.

- Dave, cumbria, 11/12/2008 17:14
Report abuse

The man's the luckiest ever. If other people made the mistakes he makes they would bring back capital punishment

- Lemar, London, 11/12/2008 17:10
Report abuse

No wonder this oaf won't stand for election. Both his feet are left ones.

- L.Taubler, London / UK, 11/12/2008 17:01
Report abuse

The dancing photo call should have shown Gordon Brown doing the TWIST. Something he is more closely familiar with

- Alex Pomeroy, london, 11/12/2008 16:37
Report abuse

Can this idiot get nothing right. He could resign of course.

- Albert Hall, hove england, 11/12/2008 15:28
Report abuse


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • David Cameron launches new crackdown on binge drinking Supermarket alcohol display David Cameron will today vow to take on the "scandal" of public drunkenness and alcohol abuse that costs the NHS £2.7 billion a year
  • Payout of £600,000 for witness put at risk by Met and CPS Scotland Yard A teenage court witness was given a £600,000 payout by the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police after he was put at risk, it...
  • MPs to visit Falklands for military inspection HMS Dauntless MPs are to visit the Falklands amid heightened tension between Britain and Argentina
  • Make 'death trap' junctions safer for cyclists, demands university mourning three Ellie Carey A university that saw two students and a member of staff killed cycling in London last year has accused Boris Johnson of failing to act...
  • What a smoothie! Eight-year-old Valentine gives Kate roses and a heart-shaped cupcake Kate Smoothie The Duchess of Cambridge's first Valentine's Day as a married woman was marked with roses, a card and a cupcake - but not from Prince...
  • Unemployment rate hits 16-year high Job Centre unemployment The UK's unemployment rate increased to a 16-year high today after another rise in the jobless total. The figure jumped by 48,000 in the...
  • Bank to reveal inflation forecast Mervyn King The Bank of England is to give a clearer insight into how deep it expects the current downturn in the economy to sink
  • RAF airman shot in Afghanistan was 'shining star' Tomlin An RAF airman who died after being shot while on patrol in Afghanistan was a "true hero and shining star", his family said
  • Osborne defends his cuts strategy as inflation falls George Osborne Chancellor George Osborne defended his economic strategy as a fall in inflation finally brought mild relief to some from the tight squeeze...
  • We're the Cockney rhyming gang: Tower Hamlets pupils learn to write and peform poems Bonner Primary School Hundreds of schoolchildren who had never been inside a theatre have been coached to write and perform their own poetry on stage
  •  

    Don't Miss