Gordon Brown labelled 'disgruntled dour Scot'

Gordon Brown has been branded a "disgruntled dour Scot" who most voters see as uncaring. The damning comments came in a book by former Labour First Minister of Scotland Henry McLeish. Psychologist Anne Ellis also claimed that the Prime Minister's personality "just does not cut the mustard in popularity stakes", warning he may lose the next election to a "much more pleasant personality". She made the remarks in a profile of Mr Brown contained in a new book by Mr McLeish looking at Scotland and Scots. Scotland - A Suitable Case for Treatment, was written by the former First Minister along with commentator Tom Brown, with a contributing chapter from Ms Ellis - a founder of the psychological profiling company PeopleMaps. In it she suggested Mr Brown could learn a lesson from the current Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who she describes as "a consummate politician if ever there was one". Ms Ellis says Mr Brown is "a very typical example of a dour Scot" and adds: "He has no time nor interest in courting popularity as he wants to get on with solving the problems of the world." She continues: "What he has failed to see is that in today's terms the role of politician, due to media attention, is more a public relations job than any other." In contrast she describes Mr Salmond, as being "really gifted in telling people what they want to hear, always putting a positive spin even on bad news". While she adds that Mr Brown "may eventually be hailed as the person who got us out of the financial doldrums" she also states: "By the time the UK electorate recognise his worth they are likely to have elected a much more pleasant personality who makes then feel good."

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ITN | August 15, 2009

Tags:. .mcleish. .uncaring. .dour. .scots. .disgruntled