Brown IMF role unlikely despite Strauss-Kahn resignation
By Ian Dunt
Gordon Brown’s chances of securing a position at the IMF following the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn looked increasingly unlikely today.
Asked about the former prime minister’s chances of securing the post, the business secretary said it should go to “somebody very effective and respected”.
The post is vacant since Mr Strauss-Kahn quit early this morning. He intends to “devote all his energy” to his legal campaign following rape charges.
But Mr Brown’s hopes of securing the job looked highly unlikely, with David Cameron already speaking out against the idea and Cable now voicing similar concerns.
“I think promoting national champions, whoever they are, probably isn’t the best way of dealing with this,” he told the Today programme.
“The IMF is dealing with a major economic crisis in Europe. They need somebody very effective and respected, particularly somebody who understands the internal problems of the Eurozone.
“That is probably where the new head of the IMF will come from. If it doesn’t, someone from the eastern Asian countries who has had a very successful record in economic management.”
Mr Brown reputation is considerably higher outside of the UK than it is in Westminster. Several Nobel prize-winning economists, including Paul Krugman, credit him with saving the world financial system while he was prime minister.
But the foreign press has paid Mr Brown little attention in its coverage and he is unlikely to get the nod for the sought-after position at such a crucial time in the IMF’s history.
