The BBC has been leading its bulletins today with the story that Gordon Brown is to apologise for the Child Migrant Programme which saw thousands of disadvantaged British children sent elsewhere in the Commonwealth for "a better life" during the mid-Twentieth Century - but with many ending up in institutions or as farm labourers.
The BBC reports that in a letter to the chairnan of the Health Select Committee, the Prime Minister has opined that "'the time is now right' for the UK government to apologise for the actions of previous governments".
Excuse me?
Whilst I wouldn't want to dismiss the suffering to which some children may have been subjected under this programme, why on earth is it something for which Gordon Brown should apologise? It was nothing to do with him whatsoever. He wasn't even alive, let alone in active politics when the policy was implemented.
If he's so keen to issue apologies, wouldn't it be better to start with something for which he is actually responsible, like the state of the economy?
> On his blog, John Redwood has listed ten things for which he reckons Gordon Brown could legitimately apologise.
> Use Twitter to list things for which Brown should apologise and please use #SaySorryBrown