Byline: Simon Walters political editor
A former student activist who insulted Tony Blair has been staying with Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah at their Scottish home to help him write a book based on his experience in Downing Street
Kirsty mcNeill, who worked as a speech writer for mr Brown in No 10, spends several days a week with him working on a major writing project about global economics and international social trends
mr Brown has been to Westminster only once since losing the election, to swear in formally as an mP, prompting rumours about his well-being However, friends say the 59-yearold is in 'good spirits', spending most of his time writing, relaxing on long walks and indulging his passion for football by watching the World Cup
Related ResultsObama, GOP differ on taxes leading up to deadlineUnemployed turning to religious leaders for help finding jobsObama says Congress must MarkON June 29, 1995, the space shuttle Atlantis docked with. (Porsche Design). . (Jaeger LeCoultre). [DerivedEnergy policy needed without wind powerThe couple's sons, John and fraser, both go to school in London and have so far remained in the capital during the week so as not to disrupt their education John, six, is at primary school and fraser, three, at nursery
The boys are understood to be staying with close friends of the family mrs Brown, 46, spends part of the week with them in London and at weekends the whole family is reunited at the house in North Queensferry, fife, in mr Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency
Glaswegian ms mcNeill, 29, was recruited by mr Brown towards the end of his days at No 10, becoming his chief speech writer Her rapid promotion through the ranks prompted jealousy among other Downing Street staffers and was reportedly criticised by Peter mandelson She is said to possess an uncanny ability to translate ideas into 'Gordonspeak' and is now helping him with research for a series of projects
ms mcNeill received an estimated [pounds sterling]10,000 pay-off when she left No 10 and is understood to be working for mr Brown for free
A former world debating champion, she was a radical student activist while at oxford University When adopted as a Labour Parliamentary candidate for the 2005 election, she paid tribute to mr Blair as 'a votewinner who has headed the best Government this country has ever had' However, at oxford, where she was Student Union president, she led sit-ins and mass protests against mr Blair's policies. replica clothing . (Audemars Piguet). She joined the Campaign for free education - an alliance of hard-Left causes that united in opposition to tuition fees
In 2000 she led a loud protest against mr Blair As his motorcade arrived she is said to have shouted: 'Are you Thatcher in disguise?' As he delivered a speech she was among hecklers chanting: 'Tony Blair, shame on you, shame on you for turning blue' A friend of mr Brown said: 'Gordon is doing a lot of writing on economics and other issues
'It could lead to a book or a series of lectures or speeches He likes to bounce ideas off her They work well together She's a friend of the family. http://www.onward.net/blog/blog.asp?Uid=mywatches&id=1052
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