The Prime Minister's appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories (watch it here) over the weekend was a world class exercise in spin. With campaigns hotting up from left to right as the General Election approaches, Brown dutifully stepped up to the 'I am an Open Book' mark in an attempt to win over critics and public alike with a a 45 minute interview that delved into his past. And boy did he succeed. Despite a paltry 4.2 million viewers (well behind the number of people who tuned in for Katie Price's confessions after her marriage to Peter Andre broke down - go figure) Brown reminded us all just what a normal and diplomatic chap he is. His favourite band? The Beatles. Of course Gordon. And what of his time as at Edinburgh University in the Sixties, surely he followed "the normal pursuit of a student" to some extent? Rest assured dear public, despite the fact that to the general population and several Home Counties housewives university life is a soul-destroying mix of sex, drugs and rock and roll, the Prime Minister encourages us in the belief that "that's just life". Some may point to the effectiveness of his intense media training over the past few months as the polls suggest that the popularity of New Labour's posterboy soared and swiftly plateaued following his ITV primetime debut, but with his bumbling candidness, his heartfelt loyalty and affection for his family, and his honest openness on his tumultuous relationship with Tony Blair, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two people might just change their minds about him come crunchtime.
