SIR Alan Sugar walked into Downing Street yesterday and was told: "You're hired."
The star of TV's The Apprentice, 61, was asked to be Gordon Brown's business and enterprise tsar - advising the PM on how to boost struggling companies.
Sir Alan's sudden arrival at No 10 sparked jokes that he had come to tell embattled Mr Brown he was fired, echoing the boardroom showdowns with his telly candidates.
But after an hour-long chat the tycoon revealed he had accepted an unpaid job to help Britain beat the slump.
Sir Alan is a long-standing Labour supporter and a close friend of the PM.
He is expected to take charge of a drive to create an army of apprentices who can push Britain's "green" and digital technology.
He already advises Downing Street on issues affecting enterprise and the economy.
A source said: "The Prime Minister wants the best business brains in the country to help put Britain back on the road to economic recovery.
"He's delighted Sir Alan has agreed to help play a leading part in his business and enterprise strategy."
Last autumn, Sir Alan likened Mr Brown's critics in the Labour Party to "rats" leaving a sinking ship and called on them to "get out".
He added: "And those of you who are left - get behind the Prime Minister!"
The star of TV's The Apprentice, 61, was asked to be Gordon Brown's business and enterprise tsar - advising the PM on how to boost struggling companies.
Sir Alan's sudden arrival at No 10 sparked jokes that he had come to tell embattled Mr Brown he was fired, echoing the boardroom showdowns with his telly candidates.
But after an hour-long chat the tycoon revealed he had accepted an unpaid job to help Britain beat the slump.
Sir Alan is a long-standing Labour supporter and a close friend of the PM.
He is expected to take charge of a drive to create an army of apprentices who can push Britain's "green" and digital technology.
He already advises Downing Street on issues affecting enterprise and the economy.
A source said: "The Prime Minister wants the best business brains in the country to help put Britain back on the road to economic recovery.
"He's delighted Sir Alan has agreed to help play a leading part in his business and enterprise strategy."
Last autumn, Sir Alan likened Mr Brown's critics in the Labour Party to "rats" leaving a sinking ship and called on them to "get out".
He added: "And those of you who are left - get behind the Prime Minister!"
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