Gordon Brown admits to ‘end of an era’ when he left 10 Downing

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown insists he is "very cheerful" as a backbench MP and has "quite quickly", realised it was the "end of an era" when he lost the May 6 general elections and had to exit from 10, Downing Street.

Speaking in Uganda after delivering a speech on development, Brown said the experience of being ejected from Number 10 two months ago "was not bruising".

"It's something you just have to come to terms with and you have to come terms with quite quickly, because things in Britain move quite quickly indeed," The Mirror quoted him, as saying.

"When I walked away from Downing Street, and we did it as a family, my two children and Sarah, I knew that was the end of a particular era and I had to accept that, and you accept it and then you move on and say look, there are other things you can do that can make a difference," he added.

The Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath denied that his reputation had been damaged by his time as prime minister, but did admit that not enough progress was made in reforming the financial system after the G-20 meeting in London last year.

Brown chose Kampala - thousands of miles from Westminster - and a subject close to his heart for his return to the political stage.

He also made light of his ejection from Number 10, telling the audience of political leaders: "I think you all know that President Obama spent some time as a community organizer before becoming a politician.

"I'm somebody who spent some time as a politician before becoming a community organizer," he added.