Back in the Brown

Gordon’s Brown’s latest attempt to re-launch his premiership returned to Earth with a bang last night after the Organisation for Economic Co-Operations and Development’s (OECD) dire prediction that Britain would be alone amongst the G7 nations in seeing its economy slip into recession.

So much for Mr Brown’s supposed “brilliant stewardship” of the economy over the last 11 years.

And a quick look through this morning’s newspapers would hardly have brightened his mood.

The Mail comments that the OECD assessment “severely undermines the premier's claims that the UK is well-placed to withstand the global downturn."

The Telegraph reports that the housing rescue package was "greeted with almost universal condemnation."

And, not forgetting poor old Alistair Darling – who was shoved out of the way to allow the Prime Minister to make yesterday’s housing announcement with Communities Secretary Hazel Blears but left to pick up the pieces in media interviews afterwards - The Times says the Chancellor was "unable to answer questions on how he will pay for the £600m stamp duty holiday as he endured another awkward day of speculation over his future."

Apparently next week’s Brown re-launch will centre on rising fuel prices.

The subject for the following week’s attempt is yet to be confirmed.