Can Gordon fill Tony's shoes?

[AB Asks]

So�..Gordon Brown is taking over as Prime Minister. Do you think this is the right choice for England? He hasn't got as much charm or natural charisma as Tony Blair but will have to attend the same events, making similarly high-profile speeches. Do you think he can hack it in the top job? Is now the time to have a politician who's focus is more on policy rather than presentation?

[vehelpfulguy]

England ?

I thought he was also Prime Minister of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[vehelpfulguy]

Asking if we prefer Gordon Brown over Tony Blair is like asking if we would like to share a prison cell with Ian Huntley or the Yorkshire Ripper.

Not a nice choice either way.

[jenstar]

He may be the right choice for England... bet he's terrible for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland though. Not to mention the Channel Islands.

[mash]

Not not sure that he is.

Not voted in by the public or party
Proven in old role but this role is vastly different
No charisma, debatable inter personal skills.
In a country with devolution why do we have a Scottish PM?
He supported Tony's follies.

[cruella]

God help us all.

[kwicky]

I can guarantee that the problems Brown has mentioned such as health and schools will actually be tackled unlike Blair who had intentions but were hardly ever carried out, except that is for the Middle East wars.

[feist]

He seems more grounded than Tony, in the sense that he looks like a fairly normal bloke and won't let the power in his position affect him and turn him into a smugly grinning-while-lying tyrant.
If he is a man of action and not just empty talk (like Tony chatterbox) then all the better for the country ... either way, time will tell.

[ludwig]

feist , I seem to recall him doing a fair amount of 'smug grinning while lying', during the last budget, so he's probably not that different.