Alan Watkins: Whatever Brown says, there's more of Blair in him than he would care to admit

For now, he may need to appear more Blair-like than Blair

Published: 25 June 2006

For the last few weeks, the Labour backbenchers have taken to calling "More, more," during Prime Minister's Questions. In times past, both the government benches and the opposition would express their noisy support in this way. But their appreciation, such as it was, had to be earned, within its own debased terms.

These days, the most inept populist jibe on the part of Mr Tony Blair is likely to be followed by "More". His followers, no doubt encouraged by the Whips, have been reduced to whistling - or rather, in their case, shouting - to keep their spirits up. No doubt all this shouting is intended more for ostentation than for use, as Edward Gibbon referred to the Roman Emperor's concubines (though the precise reference may be the other way about).

Article Length: 1029 words (approx.)