After IMF speculation, Brown takes on WEF role

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

After much – largely unfounded – speculation (largely based on briefings from CCHQ) in recent days about the possibility of Gordon Brown taking on a role at the IMF that isn’t even available yet, today it has been announced that Brown will take on an unpaid role with the World Economic Forum (WEF). Already this is being spun – even in more friendly media outlets – as a consolation prize. It’s a strange consolation prize that is handed out by a different organisation, when the main prize wasn’t even available…

Brown will chair a new “policy and initiatives co-ordination board”, which will seek to foster increased communication between major world economies. Brown is reported as saying:

“With the challenges the world faces, it is vital that all stakeholders are engaged in solving them. The World Economic Forum is uniquely placed to bring those stakeholders together and support the global agenda.”

Brown will stay on as MP for Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath – no doubt to the anger of his opponents. Strangely, none of those who seem to get so angry with Gordon for staying on as an MP mention that Margaret Thatcher remained an MP for two years after leaving Number ten.