Translation: "Bring it on" eg as used by Wendy Alexander with regard to a Scottish referendum on independence).
Early translation (circa last weekend): "Let's get on with it as soon as possible."
Later translation (circa today, source - G Brown): "Let's not pre-judge the conclusions of the review into devolution due to produce an interim report in a few months' time at which time it might - or might not - be appropriate to reach a judgement about whether to come to a decision on whether or not to consult the people on independence. Or not."
Of course, Gordon Brown was damned today whatever he said after his Scottish leader dropped him in it.
If he'd said yes he did agree with Wendy Alexander's call for a referendum, the question would then follow - when? And why don't you call one yourself?
If he's said no, he would have been in direct disagreement with her and so she would have had to resign.
So, he said neither yes nor no but, in effect, let's wait a few months before deciding. He cannot put off a decision for ever on one of the most important decisions he'll take as prime minister - does he risk the unity of the United Kingdom on the grounds that he is convinced the best chance of winning a referendum would be sooner rather than later?
PS: Apologies for earlier suggesting that "the only person who can actually call a referendum is Gordon Brown or, to be more precise, the Westminster parliament". I meant to say that Holyrood can stage a referendum but it would have no legal status since the constitution is legally a Westminster issue. Politically, of course, a Holyrood sponsored referendum could not be ignored.
The other morning on the Today programme I was asked a question which, I can now confess, I didn't know the answer to. Had Gordon Brown been told of the switch by Wendy Alexander - the leader of the Scottish Labour Party and a long-time friend of his - to back a referendum on Scottish independence? The answer became crystal clear at Prime Minister's Questions today. It's "NO".
Ms Alexander - or "Bendy Wendy" as some have dubbed here after her apparent U-turn - had privately argued for months that it was time to call the SNP's bluff and tell them to put up or shut up on the issue of independence. Her purpose was to reposition the Scottish Labour Party to be in favour of letting the people choose rather than being opposed to democracy. Her aim was to put Labour on the front foot and the SNP on the back.
There was one wee problem with this. The only person who can actually call a referendum is Gordon Brown or, to be more precise, the Westminster parliament. So, when Wendy Alexander said "bring it on" it raised the obvious question - why don't you get your friend Gordon to do just that. Now, the last thing he wants at a time when he's trying to re-connect with voters in key marginals in Middle England is a row about the future of Scotland. Hence, the almighty mess he finds himself in.
Thus, this curious exchange in PMQs:
CAMERON: Labour's leader in Scotland, Wendy Alexander, says there should be a referendum now on Scottish independence, does he agree with her?
BROWN: That is not what she has said.
CAMERON: I think the PM is losing touch with reality, this is what Wendy Alexander said "I don't fear the verdict of the Scottish people" she told BBC Scotland on Sunday "Bring it on", what else could that possibly mean? So can I ask him again, does he agree with Wendy Alexander or not, it's not much of a leadership if no-one is really following him?
BROWN: Mr Speaker, the Calman commission has been set up to review the progress of devolution, I believe that all parties in the house will welcome the fact that it is looking at all these issues, when we review the progress of the Calman commission we can make further decisions.
Mmmm - is that what "bring it on" means?
Even curiouser is last night's exchange on BBC's Newsnight Scotland:
PRESENTER (GORDON BREWER): Is Gordon Brown endorsing your decision to call for a Referendum?
WENDY ALEXANDER: Yes.
PRESENTER (GORDON BREWER): He is endorsing it and he has told you that.
WENDY ALEXANDER: Yes.
Mmmm - I suspect what's happened is that Gordon and Wendy have agreed that what she really meant to say was that the SNP should stop messing about and have the courage to ask the people for their verdict on independence. What he said to her in private can only be guessed at.
