Gordon Brown - liar?

This morning I blogged about the BBC's reporting of the leaked document showing that Gordon Brown's Labour government were planing around 8% cuts after the general election, despite Gordon Brown's denials earlier this year. The BBC's report on this story now includes this weak defence

"No 10 rejected claims Mr Brown misled Parliament while sources said the Treasury has ordered a leak inquiry.

Whitehall sources said an investigation would be launched into how the 22 page document, which was marked "confidential", was obtained by the Conservatives. "

No defence just a leak investigation announcement. Make no mistake, this is a major story and should form the basis of David Cameron's questions at the first PMQs of the next session of Parliament. Gordon Brown mislead the country and the House of Commons on several occasions and the BBC's lack of fervour is in stark contrast with how they would treat this news had it been a leading Conservative politician caught out.

Hansard is a little dry and the videos of old PMQs not always that easy to locate so I thought that a little exchange from a Gordon Brown news conference back in June might prove instructive. I first posted this on 6 June and it is video of The Spectator's Fraser Nelson asking Gordon Brown a simple question about proposed Labour cuts with the rider "please always be honest". Now watch the video, it's only short, contrast Gordon Brown's answer with what we know from the leaked Treasury documents and ask yourself "was Gordon Brown lying?".



At the time I blogged: Watch Fraser Nelson ask Gordon Brown the key question about the truth behind Gordon Brown's "Tory cuts" claim and see the colour drain from Gordon Brown's face as he realises who he's picked to ask a question and that Fraser Nelson is daring to impugn his honesty. Gordon Brown's reply is the usual dissembling that he is now famous for.

Fraser Nelson's column of the time still makes very interesting reading.