Wednesday’s Budget represented a fascinating test case for media feeling about Gordon Brown. The Chancellor’s plans could quite plausibly be represented in a range of very different ways. The Telegraph, the Mail and the Express predictably spoke of a “tax con” and relished the excuse to savage Brown for both his record and his personality. The Mirror was equally predictably adulatory, with its headline celebrating Brown’s impending move next door.

The interesting reaction, however, was the Sun’s. There is a growing sense that the electoral tide is turning David Cameron’s way and the Sun might have been tempted to take Tony Blair’s forthcoming departure as the perfect opportunity to drop its decade-long support for New Labour. But Thursday morning’s headline suggests that Mr Murdoch has far from given up up on Mr Brown: “Reasons 2p happy”, said the headline, with no talk of cons or rip-offs. The ‘Sun Says’ column inside lavished Brown with praise:

“the Chancellor pulled the rug from under David Cameron’s feet. While the Tories have ducked firm pledges on tax, Mr Brown has steamed ahead and sensationally cut them. Cameron’s 15-point poll lead may now melt like snow in the spring sunshine.”

Whether or not it was “the Sun wot won it” back in 1992, there’s no doubt the paper is a useful friend and a powerful enemy. It would be foolish to write off Gordon yet.

Filed under: gordonbrown, labour, ukpolitics on March 23rd, 2007