Our Leader in Beijing

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Watching Gordon Brown on the news standing  to attention as the Red Army goose step in front of him makes the Private Eye satire of him as the supreme leader in the Age of Change seem like sober reporting not satire. Will you sell them Northern Rock asked Huw Edwards? No, they only to want to invest in the private sector the Prime Minister did NOT answer! There was little discussion of human rights and a stifling lack of democracy as reported in a brief hilarious blog report from the BBC's Nick Robinson. With a $24 billion trade deficit there is not much a British prime minister can say. Democracy? "23 per cent of the electorate voted for me", says the UK leader. "Is that all?" replies the dictator, "I could do better than that!". But... there is one issue where British media credibility and influence can shapes the image of China in a way that matters to them and make a difference. This is on persuading Sudan not to pursue repression in Darfur. Brown promised that he would raise the issue with Premier Wen, I hope he did.