Brown made 150 phone calls since the turn of the year on Northern Irish power sharing

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

The Observer has a comprehensive interview with Gordon Brown this morning, in which the Prime Minister talks about his role in the recent Northern Irish power sharing talks, the economic recovery and his hopes and strategy for the forthcoming general election.

Toby Helm, the Observer’s political editor, writes:

“It is clear from the way Brown speaks, with energy and grim determination, that he now genuinely believes the political weather has begun to change.”

Helm also reveals that Gordon Brown made 150 “substantial phone calls” since the turn of the year on the Northern Irish power sharing issue.

Speaking on the economic recovery, Brown says:

“You can understand people a year ago saying, we’ve got this global financial recession, the government is taking action, but we need to know that these actions are working...I always knew that people were waiting to see whether our policies would work.“

In the interview, Brown is upbeat and enthusiastic about the campaign ahead, and aggressive in taking the fight to the Conservatives.

You can read the interview here, with links brokwn down into issues of the NHS, the economy, the election and the Tories.

Related posts:

1. PM to miss PMQs to stay in Northern Ireland and try to rescue power-sharing – 8 in the morning, January 27th
2. The Northern Irish peace process is still not over, but the discussion over unity should now begin
3. PM: A lasting peace and power in the hands of the people of Northern Ireland
4. The speech Gordon Brown should have made
5. The geography and politics of Sinn Fein’s quest for Irish unity