Brown anger at TV health quiz.

GORDON Brown was forced to deny taking prescription painkillers to cope with the stress of the job.

The Prime Minister was visibly angry when quizzed directly about rumours concerning his health during a BBC interview replying: No. This is the sort of question that, all too often, is entering the lexicon of British politics.

Mr Brown went on to reject suggestions his eyesight is deteriorating, insisting a check-up just a few days ago had confirmed it was not.

Last week ex-Home Secretary Charles Clarke became the first senior Labour figure to suggest Mr Brown might use poor health as grounds for resigning before the election.

But aides to the Prime Minister were furious a high-profile interview centred on lurid internet rumours that, as questioner Andrew Marr put it, he required pills to help him get through.