Geoffrey Wheatcroft: Downing Street Liars’ Club

But Cameron’s performance was almost outdone by Gordon Brown’s, whose appearance at Leveson three days earlier was excruciating, reminding us again how painful it always was to watch this strange, clever, tormented, damaged man when he was prime minister, writhing like a gored bull under the pressure of events. Blair or Cameron may be no more veracious but they can recite suggestio falsi and suppressio veri quite smoothly, whereas Brown shudders and contorts when he is saying something that is not the case. Indeed, and surprising as it may sound, some of us, if asked to choose between the word of Gordon Brown and that of Rupert Murdoch, would tend to credit Murdoch.