One of the Cabinet’s rising stars has suggested that Gordon Brown is likely to be mocked by the public within a year of coming into office.

In an apparent gaffe, David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, suggested that Mr Brown would struggle to transform public opinion in his favour.

Speaking on the BBC One Question Time programme, he said: “When I come back on this programme in six months time or a year, people will be saying ‘wouldn’t it be great to have that Blair back because we couldn’t stand that Gordon Brown’.” Sensing the astonished reaction of the audience, he added that this would be true whoever became Labour leader.

“The thing in politics is that whoever is in power, people have a whack at you. That’s part of the joy of politics.”

Asked if he would be a better Prime Minister than Mr Brown, he replied: “No I’m not suggesting that. I’m sure I would be booed to high heaven if such a ridiculous thing happened.

“I think Gordon Brown will be Prime Minister, I think he will be a very successful Prime Minister, and I think in politics it’s election time that people make their judgment.”

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