London , England ( CNN ) -- UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown described himself as a `` penitent sinner '' on Wednesday after personally apologizing to a voter he described as a `` bigoted woman . '' Brown visited the home of Gillian Duffy in Rochdale , northwestern England , after he was caught on microphone describing in blunt terms his encounter with the 65-year-old widow whom he met on the election campaign trail . The Labour party leader had had a discussion with Duffy about the size of Britain 's national debt , tax and immigration . Brown then got into his car and was driven away but he was still wearing a radio microphone , allowing broadcasters to pick up his conversation with an aide . `` That was a disaster , '' Brown said about the encounter seconds earlier . `` Should never have put me with that woman -- whose idea was that ? '' He added : `` She was just a sort of bigoted woman . '' Why Brown 's gaffe could get worse . The woman , Gillian Duffy , told reporters she wanted an apology from Brown over his `` very upsetting '' comments . Brown later visited Duffy at her home , emerging to tell reporters : `` I am mortified by what has happened . I have given her my sincere apologies . I misunderstood what she said . She has accepted that there was a misunderstanding and she has accepted my apology . `` If you like , I am a penitent sinner . '' The encounter was immediately seized on by users of social networking sites , with opinions polarized between those who said it would damage Labour in the May 6 general election and those who believed it could help the party , currently trailing the opposition Conservatives in opinion polls . One Twitter user , Thermalsocks , said : `` Gordon Brown has created a total survailance society . Glad to see he got caught out , now he knows how we all feel . '' Another user , urbantaoist85 , said : `` Anyone else up for making all politicians wear a microphone at all times ? '' Ririnyan added : `` I wonder if that was the final nail in the coffin for Labour this time . '' Andy_Francis said : `` I think GB has just kissed goodbye to any chances Labour had left . '' However CupCate wrote : `` I 'd be more concerned if Brown had said , `` What that brilliant woman said about all those damn immigrants , too right ! '' After his public apology , Brown telephoned Duffy to apologize personally . The prime minister 's spokesman said : `` Gordon has apologized to Mrs. Duffy personally by phone . He does not think that she is bigoted . `` He was letting off steam in the car after a difficult conversation . But this is exactly the sort of conversation that is important in an election campaign and which he will continue to have with voters . '' Asked about Brown 's comments , Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg , who has surged in the opinion polls following his appearance in the televised election debates with the other two leaders , told the Press Association : `` You should always try to answer the questions as best you can . '' He added : `` He has been recorded saying what he has said and will have to answer for that . '' But one Twitter user , SusanCalman , spoke for many when she said : `` I feel sorry for Gordon Brown . If people I 've met knew half the things I 'd said about them when I left I would be stabbed and left for dead . ''
UK PM Gordon Brown describes woman who spoke to him as ` ` . '' The party leader had discussion with elderly widow about religion . He got into car but forgot to remove microphone allowing people to make comments . Brown later visited Mrs Duffy to apologize , calling himself ` ` penitent sinner ''