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Downing Street work experience girl gives Prime Minister 10 out of 10
Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor3 Aug 2009
She became the most famous work experience girl in the country after asking the Prime Minister for a placement in Downing Street.
And it turned Daniela Oliveros-Elvidge into one of Gordon Brown's biggest fans. "I take my hat off to him," she said. "He is an amazing man; he is a brilliant man. I wish to be half of what he is as a politician and a person."
Miss Oliveros-Elvidge, 24, secured four days in Downing Street after asking Mr Brown for help when he addressed young people at the Prince's Trust in April.
The young bank worker, who came to Britain from Venezuela four years ago, turned to the trust after losing her City job last year at Spanish bank BBVA as a result of the credit crunch.
The trust provides personal development help for young unemployed people to help them find new jobs.
When Miss Oliveros-Elvidge, who lives in Walthamstow, arrived at Downing Street last month, she bumped into the Prime Minister on her first day.
"He said, 'It's a pleasure to have you here,'" she recalled. "I froze. I could feel my face going red. I said, 'Thank you for such an opportunity.'"
Her responsibilities included providing a briefing note for Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant who was appearing on BBC TV's Question Time. She saw Mr Brown's younger son, Fraser, drive his toy car around a hallway, and watched Sarah Brown host a party to celebrate the boy's third birthday.
She also met Lord Mandelson at No10's front door.
The highlight of the four days for Miss Oliveros-Elvidge was having a seat in the public gallery to watch Prime Minster's Questions, in which Mr Brown clashed with Tory leader David Cameron over helicopters in Afghanistan.
She attended a journalists' briefing by the Prime Minister's official spokesman. "I thought it was going to be like a scene off The West Wing, but it wasn't," she said with some disappointment. "You have all these misconceptions of government."
Did her time at Downing Street change her perceptions of the Prime Minister? Describing herself as apolitical, she said: "I just think he is a very busy man. Maybe I feel more empathetic towards him."
Miss Oliveros-Elvidge is volunteering at the Prince's Trust and hopes to work as an MP's researcher. "My fondest memories will be the Downing Street staff," she said. "They are like the crème de la crème of their profession. They're very professional and very inspirational."
Reader views (8)
"The young bank worker"
Um, what did she actually do though? And come to that what does she do now?
"providing a briefing note for Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant"
"saw Mr Brown's younger son, Fraser, drive his toy car around a hallway"
"watched Sarah Brown host a party to celebrate the boy's third birthday"
She also met Lord Mandelson at No10's front door."
"watch Prime Minster's Questions"
Not a lot by the sounds of it, opening a door, gave somoene a note and "watched", sounds great where do I sign up? Do I get expenses too? Presumably I also get a free "work" Visa?
- Bob, Cheam, 04/08/2009 09:42
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On behalf of all those city workers i have to say Gordon you make me sick
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 03/08/2009 18:57
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Don't blame the young woman for taking what's on offer. Don't even blame her for her seemingly gushing gratitude.
Question the circumstances, absolutely. See it as a political, zero-cost demonstration of 'opportunity' to be shown as GB's progressive attitudes? Oh yeah! It should also be seen as a blunder in thinking though, with attendant implications to GB's forethought and perception generally - the question has already been raised here about visa and right to stay in the UK, even if she herself does turn out to be entitled to remain after losing her job. I hardly think the government would want that question high-lighted under any circumstances, what with its many related issues vis immigration and the like.
The woman isn't at fault for taking opportunity where she could get it - indeed it is laudible that she should do so. GB, though, may have committed a blunder in facilitating it.
- Rogan, Irving, 03/08/2009 17:38
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Of course she thinks the Gordo has done a good job, she is a immigrant who hasnt been in the country 5 minutes.
That is New Labour's core vote right there
- Lb, London, 03/08/2009 16:16
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Please take him back to Venezuela with you when you go. He can meet up with another equally talented "Brilliant" man Hugo Chavez.
- Jon, london, 03/08/2009 15:32
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How does an unemployed and apparently unskilled Venezuelan manage to stay on in Britain after losing the job which presumably was the reason her visa was issued in the first place? Britain, you are in a total mess, and the wraith in No. 10 can take much of the credit.
- Edd8e, toronto, Ont., Canada, 03/08/2009 12:21
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I wonder if an indigenous Briton would have been afforded the same treatment? Somehow, I very much doubt it.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 03/08/2009 11:32
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Of course she met Meddlesum at the front door of Number 10.
Meddlesum is everything. Now he is a geek doorperson.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK, 03/08/2009 10:49
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