British Prime Minister Gordon Brown embarrassed himself in the Commons today during Prime Minister's Questions, the half-hour session that takes place each Wednesday when MPs of all parties are able to ask questions to the Prime Minister that is broadcast live on TV.
When asked about his recent bail-out plan of British banks, the PM declared that he had saved the world - leading to guffaws from opposition MPs.
What he had meant to say was that he had rescued the British banking system.
However, many world leaders, including Bush, have hailed Brown, and Chancellor Alistair Darling, for being the first leaders to take action to shore up banks.
A French newspaper hailed him as 'the magician of Anglo Saxon social-liberalism'.
And Paul Krugman, the winner of the Nobel Prize for economics, proclaimed that Brown had shown others the way through the crisis.
'We have saved the world': Brown's gaffe as he defends his billion-pound rescue of the banks
By Nicola Boden
10th December 2008
Daily Mail
Blunder: Gordon Brown in the Commons today, reflecting on his gaffe that he had saved the world
When he was dubbed 'a magician' and lauded across the globe for taking the lead on the financial crisis, a coy Gordon Brown dismissed the high praise out of hand.
Asked if he was 'Flash Gordon' or some kind of economic superhero, he insisted it was plain old 'Gordon' and that he was simply doing his best to help Britain through a crippling downturn.
But all his modesty was scrubbed away in one fail swoop today with a huge gaffe as he declared he had indeed saved the world.
In hilarious scenes at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Brown blundered as he defended his billion-pound bailout from Tory claims it had failed because it had not eased lending conditions.
Firing back, Mr Brown insisted: 'The first point of recapitalisation was to save banks that would otherwise have collapsed.'
Then came the bombshell as he added: 'We not only saved the world...'
Flushing with embarrassment, he quickly corrected himself, adding 'saved the banks' but the gaffe was too much for the Tories who fell about with laughter.
Instead of shrugging off their guffaws like his predecessor Tony Blair might have done, Mr Brown stumbled before trying to clarify what he had meant.
Struggling to make himself heard, he said: 'We not only worked with other countries to save the world's banking system but not one depositor actually lost any money in Britain.'
Defiantly, he added: 'The Opposition may not like the fact that we led the world in saving the banking system - but we did.'
The slip-up was a golden opportunity for David Cameron, who wasted no time before sticking in the knife.
He promptly claimed it was proof Mr Brown cared more about his global standing than the plight of Britons.
'Well, it's now on the record,' the Tory leader said. 'He's so busy talking about saving the world he's forgotten about the businesses of this country.'
Pouncing: David Cameron could not believe his luck when the Prime Minister slipped up and stuck in the knife as Tory MPs guffawed with laughter
Mr Cameron, who yesterday accused Labour of 'economic crimes', insisted the bailout was not working because it had not freed up lending.
'All over the country there are businesses who have had interest rates increased and overdrafts restricted. While he thinks he is saving the world, we are talking about businesses in the real world,' he said.
'I know he has been around the world boasting about his recapitalisation scheme so he is reluctant to change it but for the good of the economy and our businesses, it has got to change.'
A furious Mr Brown did his best to ignore the jibes and instead launched another scathing attack on the Tories as a 'do nothing' party.
Small businesses were being boosted by extra funding for the Loan Guarantee System, export credits, deferred corporation tax rises and other tax cuts, he said.
He accused the Tories of 'clinging to the failed policies of the 1980s'.
'They will say anything to disguise the fact they will do nothing... That is the Conservative party we know and they are not fit for Government.'
Flash Gordon: The Prime Minister (top left) as Captain Britain in a new Marvel comic book in which he helps save his Government and the country
It was Labour MPs' turn to make some noise when left-wing backbencher Alan Simpson - one of the party's biggest rebels - then stood up.
To their surprise, he leapt to Mr Brown's defence, telling the House: 'It is quite nice to have a Prime Minister who would save the world when we are faced with an Opposition who would barely save face.'
It was two months ago that the Prime Minister was receiving plaudits from around the world for taking the lead on the financial crisis.
He and Alistair Darling were praised for being the first to take drastic action to shore up banks, which was then followed by other world leaders including President Bush.
A French newspaper hailed him as 'the magician of Anglo Saxon social-liberalism'.
Meanwhile, Paul Krugman, the winner of the Nobel Prize for economics, proclaimed that he had shown others the way through the crisis.
'Has Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, saved the world financial system?', the economist mused.
He concluded that would be an exaggeration but he praised Brown for his quick, clear-headed recapitalisation.
At the time, when asked at a press confence if he was a superhero or 'Flash Gordon', Mr Brown coyly insisted: 'Just Gordon, I can assure you.'
Earlier this year, just when his leadership was at its lowest ebb, he was portrayed as a superhero in a new edition of the US-produced Captain Britain cartoon strip.
With bitter irony, it depicted Mr Brown as a Marvel Comic good-guy with chisel-jaw features and a steely resolve who helps save his critically flawed Government and the nation from disaster.
dailmail.co.uk
When asked about his recent bail-out plan of British banks, the PM declared that he had saved the world - leading to guffaws from opposition MPs.
What he had meant to say was that he had rescued the British banking system.
However, many world leaders, including Bush, have hailed Brown, and Chancellor Alistair Darling, for being the first leaders to take action to shore up banks.
A French newspaper hailed him as 'the magician of Anglo Saxon social-liberalism'.
And Paul Krugman, the winner of the Nobel Prize for economics, proclaimed that Brown had shown others the way through the crisis.
'We have saved the world': Brown's gaffe as he defends his billion-pound rescue of the banks
By Nicola Boden
10th December 2008
Daily Mail
Blunder: Gordon Brown in the Commons today, reflecting on his gaffe that he had saved the world
When he was dubbed 'a magician' and lauded across the globe for taking the lead on the financial crisis, a coy Gordon Brown dismissed the high praise out of hand.
Asked if he was 'Flash Gordon' or some kind of economic superhero, he insisted it was plain old 'Gordon' and that he was simply doing his best to help Britain through a crippling downturn.
But all his modesty was scrubbed away in one fail swoop today with a huge gaffe as he declared he had indeed saved the world.
In hilarious scenes at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Brown blundered as he defended his billion-pound bailout from Tory claims it had failed because it had not eased lending conditions.
Firing back, Mr Brown insisted: 'The first point of recapitalisation was to save banks that would otherwise have collapsed.'
Then came the bombshell as he added: 'We not only saved the world...'
Flushing with embarrassment, he quickly corrected himself, adding 'saved the banks' but the gaffe was too much for the Tories who fell about with laughter.
Instead of shrugging off their guffaws like his predecessor Tony Blair might have done, Mr Brown stumbled before trying to clarify what he had meant.
Struggling to make himself heard, he said: 'We not only worked with other countries to save the world's banking system but not one depositor actually lost any money in Britain.'
Defiantly, he added: 'The Opposition may not like the fact that we led the world in saving the banking system - but we did.'
The slip-up was a golden opportunity for David Cameron, who wasted no time before sticking in the knife.
He promptly claimed it was proof Mr Brown cared more about his global standing than the plight of Britons.
'Well, it's now on the record,' the Tory leader said. 'He's so busy talking about saving the world he's forgotten about the businesses of this country.'
Pouncing: David Cameron could not believe his luck when the Prime Minister slipped up and stuck in the knife as Tory MPs guffawed with laughter
Mr Cameron, who yesterday accused Labour of 'economic crimes', insisted the bailout was not working because it had not freed up lending.
'All over the country there are businesses who have had interest rates increased and overdrafts restricted. While he thinks he is saving the world, we are talking about businesses in the real world,' he said.
'I know he has been around the world boasting about his recapitalisation scheme so he is reluctant to change it but for the good of the economy and our businesses, it has got to change.'
A furious Mr Brown did his best to ignore the jibes and instead launched another scathing attack on the Tories as a 'do nothing' party.
Small businesses were being boosted by extra funding for the Loan Guarantee System, export credits, deferred corporation tax rises and other tax cuts, he said.
He accused the Tories of 'clinging to the failed policies of the 1980s'.
'They will say anything to disguise the fact they will do nothing... That is the Conservative party we know and they are not fit for Government.'
Flash Gordon: The Prime Minister (top left) as Captain Britain in a new Marvel comic book in which he helps save his Government and the country
It was Labour MPs' turn to make some noise when left-wing backbencher Alan Simpson - one of the party's biggest rebels - then stood up.
To their surprise, he leapt to Mr Brown's defence, telling the House: 'It is quite nice to have a Prime Minister who would save the world when we are faced with an Opposition who would barely save face.'
It was two months ago that the Prime Minister was receiving plaudits from around the world for taking the lead on the financial crisis.
He and Alistair Darling were praised for being the first to take drastic action to shore up banks, which was then followed by other world leaders including President Bush.
A French newspaper hailed him as 'the magician of Anglo Saxon social-liberalism'.
Meanwhile, Paul Krugman, the winner of the Nobel Prize for economics, proclaimed that he had shown others the way through the crisis.
'Has Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, saved the world financial system?', the economist mused.
He concluded that would be an exaggeration but he praised Brown for his quick, clear-headed recapitalisation.
At the time, when asked at a press confence if he was a superhero or 'Flash Gordon', Mr Brown coyly insisted: 'Just Gordon, I can assure you.'
Earlier this year, just when his leadership was at its lowest ebb, he was portrayed as a superhero in a new edition of the US-produced Captain Britain cartoon strip.
With bitter irony, it depicted Mr Brown as a Marvel Comic good-guy with chisel-jaw features and a steely resolve who helps save his critically flawed Government and the nation from disaster.
dailmail.co.uk