Unexpected question for Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown is going to say a few introductory words to conference at 4.30 before taking questions from a bunch of newly selected parliamentary candidates. Probably not the toughest audience you might think.

Labour will be hoping it distracts attention from an unexpected question thrown at the PM by Andrew Marr this morning. He asked Gordon Brown if he took pain-killers. I’m told he mis-spoke and was asking about the blogosphere rumours that surfaced in hard copy in The Independent claiming that Gordon Brown took anti-depressants.

This was categorically denied by No. 10 after a long-serving aide went in to check the story out with the PM himself. It seems that Andrew Marr’s team missed that and thought the controversy was still out there and unanswered.

Gordon Brown this morning gave a brief “no” in response to the question before moving on to discuss his eyes.

This morning’s new policy was a law binding the government to reducing the deficit … Treasury officials say the detail hasn’t yet been worked out and there might well have to be clauses which allow an opt out of some sort in the event of a double dip recession.

A couple of Gordon Brown answers that won’t get much attention leapt out. He spoke of the voters being in “suspended judgement” and how voters “are not sure until they see the results” of economic management.

Both answers speak of a view widely held in No. 10 that the economic turnaround will come soon and will reap votes.

There is of course another view that says the moment voters feel more comfortable about the economy they might desert nurse even more quickly.