Gordon "consistency" Brown strikes again (update)

Gordon Brown has now made his position clear?

From Nick Robinson's BBC blog (my emphasis):

"At Gordon Brown's recent news conference with France's President Sarkozy the two leaders were asked

Q : "Should the leaders of major democracies like Britain and France now boycott the opening ceremony in Beijing as a result of what is going on in Tibet?"

Sarkozy : "At the time of the opening ceremony, I will have assumed the presidency of the EU, so I have to sound out and consult my fellow members to see whether or not we should boycott"

Brown : "We will not be boycotting the Olympic Games; Britain will be attending the Olympic Games ceremonies"

Note the plural – ceremonies. It is now clear what was being said however cryptically. It was far from clear, though, to those who were not in the know. Indeed, a quick cuttings search reveals that major national newspapers stated again and again in recent weeks that the PM was indeed attending the opening ceremony.

Was it a tactical decision to be cryptic? An attempt to avoid a story? An effort not to upset the Chinese? Or was it simply that Team Brown genuinely thought everyone knew? Or a mix of all the above ?"


David Miliband is reported by MSN on 29 March to have said (my emphasis)"Foreign Secretary David Miliband has flatly rejected pressure for a Europe-wide boycott of the Olympic Games in response to China's crackdown on Tibet. He said he had no plans to attend the opening ceremony himself, but Prime Minister Gordon Brown would be there - along with many other EU leaders."


What is being claimed is that the plan all along was for Gordon Brown to attend the closing ceremony and Tessa Jowell to attend the opening ceremony. If this is the case why did Downing Street not point out the newspapers' mistake at the time in reporting that Gordon Brown would be attending the opening ceremony. Does this remind anyone of the way Downing Street let the newspapers report the Saddam's WMD 45 minute claim without correcting it?