Heard The One About The Rise Of The Political Comedian?

George Orwell wrote: "Every joke is a tiny revolution." He never had his one-liners rewritten by New Labour ministers, as I did. Not so much a revolution, more a public-private partnership for growth in the era of digital enterprise. When I was writing the odd line for Gordon Brown, the best joke I ever gave him was: "I think I'll put up pensions by 75p." I only said it as a gag. I didn't think he'd go and do it.