Gordon Brown: 'I'm just like brooding Emily Bronte character Heathcliff'

by Dave Keating | July 10, 2008 at 04:14 am | 152 views | 2 comments

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Gordon Brown can't seem to catch a break! The UK prime minister tried to get some sympathy from the public by humerously agreeing to some comparisons that have been made in the media between himself and Emily Bronte's tragic literary character Heathcliff. But the comparison has been met with derision and ridicule from teh opposition and the media.

The Prime Minister likened himself to Bronte's dark, brooding vengeful character who died a broken man haunted by the ghost of his former lover whose body he exhumed twice.

The comparison was made in an interview in New Statesman magazine which was designed to soften the image of Mr Brown.

But the remarks, which come only days after Mr Brown was ridiculed for suggesting people throw out too much food, have been mocked by his political opponents and have dismayed Labour MPs as they have uncomfortable echoes of Mr Brown's own political plight.

Allies of Tony Blair have claimed that Mr Brown is "psychologically flawed", living a "Shakespearian tragedy", and obsessed with the legacy of his predecessor.

However, in the interview, Mr Brown says it is "absolutely correct" for people to compare him to Heathcliff. He then adds: "Well, maybe an older Heathcliff, a wiser Heathcliff." Many MPs were openly questioning last night whether Mr Brown could have even read the book to make such a comparison.