Top Blair aide Matthew Taylor identifies Brown's fundamental problem of "authenticity"

At an event discussing Leadership at the London School of Economics yesterday evening, Matthew Taylor attacked Gordon Brown for having "consistently said one thing and done another". Now Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, Taylor was Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit under Tony Blair, and later Blair's Chief Adviser on Strategy. His words represent the first unambiguous public attack on the Brown government by a key member of the Blair camp.

On policy, Taylor criticised Brown for the inconsistency of claiming to be for social justice and then cutting inheritance tax. On Brown's style of government, he charged that the Prime Minister had pretended to be for a new politics and then played the old political games on when to hold a General Election. Brown had presented himself as being for the politics of the big tent while briefing from Downing Street even against members of his own government.

Taylor argued that this authenticity issue more than anything else had damaged Brown with voters. This dislike was not to be traced to him being Scottish or brooding, but to a public feeling that Brown does not match up to their desire for a leader who is both authentic and effective.

Peter Cuthbertson

Comments

[John Moss]

And claimed to be a prudent Chancellor, then spent £200billion more than he got in in taxes!

I think it is called, "lying".

[Ray]

Does anyone else think that this Taylor fella looks uncannily similar to a young Christopher Walken...

[Ray]

Sorry, forgot my question mark.

Here you go: ?

[London Tory]

Who cares that Matthew Taylor says ? Has he ever had a real job, and if so, did he gain it through a fair and open competition ?

"....Now Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the encouragment of the Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce". Did Matty boy serve his apprenticeship for this non job by working in Downing Street's Policy Unity, or by serving as Blair's Head Of Strategy.

Another priceless non job, filled by the type of non person who has profited so effortlessly from Brown's expansion of the Worthless Bureaucracy since 1997. These guys exist in some form of back scratching bubble. And people like Taylor have the cheek to criticise the "rich" Tory front bench, when they themselves have relied throughout their entire careers on patronage, not ability.

[Kris Taylor]

Who cares what David Cameron says? Has he ever had a real job?

[powellite]

Who cares what anyone says? Unless they've worked in fifteen different areas of life for over forty years, how dare they presume to pass judgement on anything? I say we should put a minimum age threshold of 65 on being the Prime Minister - only way to get a man of experience in the role. Ming might have his chance after all...

[Ed Blagden]

London Tory wrote: "Another priceless non job, filled by the type of non person who has profited so effortlessly from Brown's expansion of the Worthless Bureaucracy since 1997"

Er, while I am in complete sentimental agreement with you, I should point out that the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce was in fact founded in 1754 and given a Royal Charter in 1847. For this particular expansion of Worthless Bureaucracy you can blame Queen Victoria, not our Tone.

But then again, why let the facts get in the way of a worthy sentiment?

[David Sergeant]

Maybe the danger here is trying to be too intellectual. Brown has demonstrated so many times that he is a thoroughly nasty piece of work. To reduce him to someone who has just said he will do one thing but then does another is giving him more credit than is due. Whatever Mrs. Brown says.