As with Icarus, so with Brown

One year ago Gordon Brown became British Prime Minister, a role he had coveted for years and seemed eminently suitable for. His first four months witnessed a surety of touch on the wheel of state that, with hindsight, seems incredible. Brown was hailed as the saviour of the Labour Party after the prolonged departure of Tony Blair, and handled the challenges of state with dexterity all the more noticeable for its later absence. Brown would, it was hoped among Labour supporters, revitalise the party's battered soul and cast into wilderness the spin-doctoring that plagued New Labour.

They now seem like halcyon days to the party's battered supporters. Since October, Brown has given the appearance of flying too close to the sun, his wings have melted and he is in freefall. A leader of a divided, demoralised party who faces the twin perils of a rejuvenated Conservative Party and faltering economy. There are still two years until the next election, time to turn his premiership around or see the Conservatives implode to scandal. But he must start to set the agenda, to lead rather than react. Spectacular as his fall from grace has been, his revival would be even more so.