Gordon Brown, the new British PM, gets good questions from The Independent readers.
Some of the Q&A:
In an answer of one word, and with the benefit of hindsight, was it wrong to invade Iraq?
No.
You were the one person who could have stopped Blair signing up to the invasion of Iraq, either by threatening to quit or publicly opposing it. How do you feel about putting your career ahead of the lives of thousands of Iraqis and hundreds of British soldiers?
I don’t doubt that you hold your views about the war sincerely. We know it has been a divisive issue for our party and our country, but I hope you’ll accept that I hold my views sincerely too. There’s no doubt that mistakes were made in our planning for what happened after the removal of Saddam, and I think it’s important to learn the lessons and to go forward knowing that proper procedures are going to be in place that will command the confidence not just of Parliament but the confidence of the public. We will learn all the lessons that need to be learnt.
Do you believe in God? And if you do, do your religious views influence your life and your politics?
Yes I do. While this of course influences your life, religious faith is a personal matter. My life and politics are influenced by the values and principles I grew up with: a belief in fairness, justice and opportunity; the belief that every person in the world should be able to make the most of their talents.
Any chance of joining the euro under your premiership?
I look forward to the advice of the next Chancellor!
What bores you?
Explaining things I’ve never said.
What is really on your iPod?
Lots of the music I grew up with: Motown, Sinatra, and lots of Sixties and Seventies classics. The last time I was asked this, I mentioned the Beatles and some people tried to get me prosecuted for illegally downloading their albums so I won’t mention them!
What is your favourite television programme?
I thought Andrew Marr’s recent series on modern British history was fascinating, and he’d unearthed some amazing footage. I also think Britain’s Got Talent was an amazing leap of faith by Simon Cowell - both to trust that this great swell of hidden talent would emerge, and to have confidence that people would enjoy watching an old-fashioned variety show. But he was right to have faith. It’s been a tremendous success, and I think people will already be excited about the next one.
How do you respond to criticisms that you are a Stalinist, a control freak and could not manage people in a collegiate way, as claimed by people who have worked with you?
I’ll take that as a job application, Keith. It’s always difficult to win over everyone you work with, especially when people disagree with you on fundamental issues like joining the euro. But I’d like to think I’ve got on well with the vast majority of civil servants and ministers I’ve worked with. I’m a conviction politician though, and I’m always prepared to take tough decisions and sometimes unpopular decisions for the long-term good of the country.
What has been the biggest single mistake of the current government?
We’ve made serious mistakes in the past - like the 75p pension increase - but we’ve generally been able to fix them down the line. The mistake we’ve not yet fixed is the failure to prepare properly for the aftermath of the war in Iraq, as I said earlier.
What’s a bigger danger - global warming or jihadi terrorism?
Both are massive dangers, and the truth is - while every other country in the world tends to make trade-offs and choose priorities - Britain is the only country simultaneously taking the lead in fighting all the great dangers the world faces: global warming, international terrorism, nuclear proliferation and world poverty. I am proud of that, and that will continue under my government.
Do you agree with Tony Blair’s criticism of The Independent?
As I said at The Independent’s 20th anniversary party, it is a great campaigning newspaper and it always has been. It doesn’t matter whether you agree with the campaigns or not.
Where would you recommend I take my girlfriend for a tasty but economical supper?
There’s a great Chinese restaurant in Kirkcaldy called Maxin’s.
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