Brown tennis comments clarified

The PM will serve "more aces than Andy Murray", Mr Johnson said

Alan Johnson has sought to clarify comments he made about Gordon Brown "not being interested in playing on the Centre Court of politics".

The health secretary said he had meant that the prime minister was "just interested in getting on with the job".

Continuing the Wimbledon analogy begun in an interview on Sunday, he said Mr Brown would "achieve the results and serve more aces than Andy Murray".

Mr Johnson admitted he liked "showing off a bit to the camera" himself.

The health secretary's original comments, on BBC One's The Politics Show, came halfway through the Wimbledon tennis championship.

Centre Court is where the highest-profile players contest matches, often including British men's number one Andy Murray.

The remarks have been seized upon by critics, who argue they represent a criticism of the presentational ability of Mr Brown, who was himself a successful schoolboy tennis player.

'Showbusiness'

Asked about what he had meant, Mr Johnson told the BBC News Channel: "Some people believe their stature, their importance, means they should only ever play on the Centre Court.

You've got decency, you've got intelligence, and you've got dedication, and I really think those are the important qualities in a prime minister - not some kind of PR exercise on legs Alan Johnson Health secretary

"They're interested in that showbusiness and the lights and the camera and the rest of it. Gordon's just interested in getting on with the job.

"He'll achieve the results and serve more aces than Andy Murray, whether it's on the outer courts or whether it's on the centre court."

He added: "He's not interested in that dimension of politics which people like me kind of like: showing off a bit to the camera. That's not Gordon.

"But you've got decency, you've got intelligence, and you've got dedication, and I really think those are the important qualities in a prime minister - not some kind of PR exercise on legs."

Mr Johnson's comments and clarification come in the week when the NHS is celebrating its 60th anniversary and when health minister Lord Darzi is announcing plans for the service's next 10 years.