Brown was popular in the party and stood for the continuation of Gaitskell's policies, but his colleagues were well aware of his propensity to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and behave in an erratic manner – to the extent that fellow right-wing MP Tony Crosland described the selection between him and Wilson as "[choosing] between a crook and a drunk."
Brown was a well-liked figure at the party and stood for the continuation of Gaitskell's policies, but his colleagues were aware of his excessive drinking habits and unpredictable behavior – to the point where fellow right-wing MP Tony Crosland described the choice between him and Wilson as choosing between two individuals who were not trustworthy.