GORDON Brown's latest attempt to beat David Cameron in the image stakes has found him agreeing that a bank holiday to celebrate Britishness would be a good idea as well as revealing that he wore Marks and Spencers briefs or boxers.
In an interview for the July edition of New Woman magazine, the chancellor said: "I think it would be a good idea if there was a day every year when we could come together to celebrate what makes us great as a country. We have so much to be proud of, so much to celebrate, and we shouldn't be afraid to show our pride and patriotism. A special day might be a good way to do that."
Mr Brown, to the dismay of even some of his allies, continued to trumpet the virtues of Britishness, and what he loves most about Britain.
"I think we come together as one people like no other country, whether it is when we mourn as a nation, as we did following the deaths of Princess Diana and the Queen Mother; when we show our resilience as a nation, as we did during the Blitz or after last year's July 7 bombings . . . On all these occasions, whether it is in sadness or in celebration, after tragedy or triumph, that is when we see Britain at its best."
On a lighter note, he disclosed that at the mention of the word rabbit, Sex and The City and his son's chocolate Easter bunnies sprang to mind.
He will be going to Germany to watch the England v Sweden football match during the World Cup, and the rest of matches he will watch with his brothers.
He did not expand on the last time he got really drunk but warned that he was soon to celebrate his brother's birthday.
On briefs or boxers, he said: "Whatever comes to hand. But they're all M &S." Asked what he wore in bed. He declared: "That's between me and the bed sheets."
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