Brown but not dull

At the beginning of Brown's reign I was prepared, like most people, to accept that he could do a useful job. He was not particularly likable but as long as he introduced some competence into government I told people that I would be content. It would have suited me if he was dull and effective like Major or Attlee so that I could get on with my life.

Instead we have had an extraordinary two years. The only period without headlines was last summer when Brown took a holiday; otherwise it has been a succession of catastrophic mismanagement. He may be the worst Prime Minister in a century but his term of office has not been dull.

It has been obvious since September 2007 that this man does not have the skills to be an effective PM. There are even now some doubts as to his effectiveness as a Chancellor of the Exchequer, but plainly now, Blair masked his weaknesses from view. Other than the "psychologically flawed" comment that emerged during one of the 10-11 battles Brown managed to keep his head down during every difficult moment yet maintain this fiction that he was a superior candidate for the job than Blair. How empty that boast appears today. It is not enough to wannabe, you actually do have to have talent.