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Welcome to Political Thinking.

I'm by the seaside in Cold War for the G7 Summit.

It is one of the great privileges that any Prime Minister can have.

One of the great challenges they can face to chair a summit of fellow leaders

at a time of international crisis, just like the G7 now.

My guest on Political Thinking this week knows just what that is like.

Gordon Brown hosted the G20 in London back in 2009

after the collapse of the global banking system.

Fellow leaders believe that Gordon was incredibly effective at that summit

and at others.

And one of my favorite stories in politics is about a dinner

held by the French President Nicolas Sokouzi

to thank the British Prime Minister for all he done

to try and deal with the impacts on the global economy

of that banking crisis.

At the end of a dinner, a small intimate affair held in the Alise Palace

Sokouzi got to his feet, tapped his glass,

and called everybody to attention.

Gordon, he said, forget my poor French accent.

Gordon, he said, you know, in many ways I should hate you.

You're Scottish, you're economist, and well,

...