Sorry? No, not really!

"I apologise if what I said caused any offence"

Empty sort of words really, hinting that others might not have been offended.

"[I would] never put myself in a position where I would want to say anything like that about a woman I'd met".

As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Mr Brown should never have been in a position to make a personal choice about who he did or didn't meet.

The position, not the person who holds the position, is what's important. The position is that of representing the whole population, and it should be done effectively and politely at all times. We, the electorate, irrespective of our political affiliation, deserve nothing less.

This short sentence would suggest that Mr Brown has been able to avoid what he often refers to as 'difficult situations', because those around him have known he cannot cope with criticism, cannot cope with challenge.

Let's hope he hasn't made any other gaffes, international gaffes, that have been kept from the media, or which the media has deliberately kept from the front pages because they 'like him so much'.

"this was me being helpful to the broadcasters, with my microphone on, rushing into the car because I had to get to another appointment and they have chosen to play my private conversation."

Translated means - "I'm a nice man really. I was being nice to them - and now look what they've done, they've stabbed me in the back."

An, "Et tu, Brute?" sort of moment, or a child-like plea, asking the big boys to play nicely? Perhaps hinting they should help smooth things over, as they've done before when he's made a mess of things?

Mr Brown made a fuller public apology to Labour Party members

Would that he had taken a moment to apologise to everybody who has been hurt and who has been sickened by his outburst. Would that he had taken a moment to apologise to all who have paid his wages, and expenses, for the past thirteen years.

By being so thoughtless, by being so callous, he has upset far more people than he can possibly imagine and, because of the country's dire financial situation, he can't even try to bribe his way back into favour - but what's the betting he'll try, what's the betting he'll try to pretend to funnel some non-existent cash to Rochdale.

Nick Robinson said

"For those of us who have known Gordon Brown for many years, what we have seen is no huge surprise. He has got better and better at handling himself in public, but quite often he flares up in private, expresses frustration,"

Ah!

Backtrack a few lines, because it seems that Nick Robinson has, unwittingly, answered the question.

His words suggest that the media has in fact been protecting the man by concealing what many have suspected for years, and they may have done it simply because they themselves are supporters of one particular political party - and that comes first. It comes before national interest.

If this is true, then the media have done the country a terrible disservice.

Alastair Campbell - unelected, and who was Mr Blair's communications director, said,

"She was clearly not a bigot and [Mr Brown] knew that."

Perhaps Mr Campbell would care to cast his eye over Inspector Gadget's blog, where he says

I wondered what would happen to Mrs Duffy if she really was a Ruralshire Constabulary police officer?

A huge rollicking, the next available slot on a diversity training course and zero chance of ever being promoted would follow.

Well, now the PM has responded by apologising for calling her a bigot, can I expect a similar message from the Ruralshire Chief within the next few days?

Mrs Rigby thinks not.

She thinks those in certain positions of authority will actually agree with Mr Brown, and will think the same as this anonymous commenter 'David' over at Constantly Furious's place

But really, what is the news story here? Gordon meets inbred bigot. Gordon is polite to her in public and then calls her an inbred bigot in private.

The uncomfortable truth is that, for the first time ever, he was actually right about something.

Nothing much more to say really, is there.

Maybe they really do want warring factions on the streets, and maybe they know precisely how to achieve it, because all that's left is anger.

Respect - for personal opinions. Gone.

Respect - for the elderly. Gone.

Respect - for ordinary folk, who might not subscribe to the opinions of the political elite. Gone.

Respect - has been thrown out with the dirty bathwater.

....