Politics:Gordon Brown 政治：布朗

The British Prime Minister Makes an Important Speech 英国首相发表重要讲话

　　Yesterday British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a speech to members of his party promising¹ “a new settlement for new times”.

　　But the Prime Minister knows that for his leadership, time might be running out. His Labour Party are now 22 points behind the Conservatives and unless they improve their position, the next election will be won by the leader of the Opposition², David Cameron.

　　Gordon Brown’s speech was aimed at those within Labour who think the only way their party can win again is for him to go as soon as possible.

　　How did it come to this? When Mr Brown came into office 14 months ago, he was riding high in opinion polls and had a secure place in his party. His serious, no-nonsense approach was seen as a refreshing³ change from Mr Blair’s slick and prepared style.

　　Mr Brown’s honeymoon⁴ came to an end this time last year. There were hints that he might try to capitalise on his lead in the polls by calling a snap election. The Prime Minister allowed speculation⁵ to build for several weeks before finally ruling out an autumn election.

　　The delay allowed the Prime Minister’s opponents to call him indecisive and even cowardly.

　　There followed unpopular changes to the tax system, which left some poorer voters worse off. This led to an embarrassing U-turn that further eroded⁶ Mr Brown’s image as a safe pair of hands to run the economy.

　　And then we have the growing financial crisis that has already caused one UK bank to be nationalised and another, HBOS, to be taken over.

　　Some of his opponents say Mr Brown must shoulder some of the blame for recent events, since he was Chancellor⁷ for 10 years under Tony Blair.

　　Yesterday the Prime Minister accepted that his first year in power might have gone better, saying, “Where I've made mistakes I'll put my hand up and try to put them right”.

　　But he insisted that his long experience meant he was best placed to handle the financial crisis.

　　Perhaps speaking of Mr Cameron, the Prime Minister said, “This is no time for a novice”.

　　The Prime Minister’s impassioned speech has impressed many supporters, but it is not clear if it will be enough to quieten the dissent⁸ within his party. 

GLOSSARY 词汇表
a new settlement for new times
新时期的新对策
Opposition
反对党
slick
圆滑的
capitalise
利用
speculation
揣测
indecisive
犹豫不决
eroded
损坏了
nationalised
国有化
put my hand up
（举手）认错
impassioned
慷慨激昂的
 time might be running out
恐怕没时间了
riding high in opinion polls
民调支持率高
honeymoon
蜜月（期）
snap election
临时选举
ruling out
排除
U-turn
掉头回转
safe pair of hands
经验老手
shoulder some of the blame
承担部分责任
This is no time for a novice
不是新手上阵的时候
quieten the dissent
平息不满情绪

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

4 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

5 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

6 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

7 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

8 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。