Cameron tops GQ magazine "most influential" list

By Peter Apps

LONDON (Reuters) - Conservative leader David Cameron might not have the keys to Downing Street, but style magazine GQ says he has already replaced Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the top of its list of the country's most influential people.

The magazine says its list -- heavy on newspaper editors and other media figures -- looks at the "ability to influence", and that Brown has already seen his honeymoon end.

But despite suffering from the run on Northern Rock, several high profile losses of the personal data of millions and his declining poll ratings, he remains second on the list.

GQ credits Eton-educated Cameron, 41, with jump-starting an opinion poll turnaround in September through promising to slash inheritance tax and stamp duty, prompting Brown to backtrack over a planned snap election for fear he might lose.

"Cameron is the voice that people are listening to," list editor Darius Sanai told Reuters. "He is the initiator and it seems to many of us that Gordon Brown is only reacting."

At number three from number 20 last year is media baron Rupert Murdoch's son James, now chairman of Murdoch's News Corporation in Europe and Asia at the age of 35.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King is down one place at fourth, one above Tesco chief executive Terry Leahy and BBC director general Mark Thompson.

New entries on the list of top 100 include hedge fund managers, environmentalists, actor Sir Ian McKellen, Formula One prodigy Lewis Hamilton and a string of Brown's aides who have replaced Tony Blair's favourites at the top of government.